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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1975
HONG KONG DEFENCE COSTS NEGOTIATIONS
JOINT PRESS STATEMENT
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DURING THE PAST WEEK, NEGOTIATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE BETWEEN DELEGATIOUS OF HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT HEADED BY THE RT. HON. WILLIAN RODGERS, M.P., MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HEADED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE. THESE NEG 'TIATIONS FOLLOWED EXCHANGES WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE DILLING TH LAST YEAR ON A SUCCES. OR AGREEMENT TO THE PRESENT D.FENCE C STS AGREEMENT WHICH EXPIRES ON MARCH 31, 1976.
THE DEGOTIATIONS WERE BASED ON THE CLEAR ACCEPTANCE BY BOTH SIDES OF THE NEED FOR A GARRISON CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING THE SECURITY AND INTEGRITY OF HONG KONG AND DEMONSTRATING HMG'S CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COLONY, SUCH A GARRISON IS ALSO REGARDED BY BOTH GOVERNMENTS AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN MAINTAINING CONFIDENCE.
AS A RESULT OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHID ON THE SIZE AND TOTAL COST OF THE GARRISON. THE FUTURE GARRISON WILL BE R DUCED FROM ITS PRESENT LEVEL OF 6-2/3 UNITS TO INCLUDE ONLY FOUR INFANTRY BATTALIONS (ONE OF THEM BRITISH), A GURKHA ENGINEER FIELD SQUADRON, FIVE ROYAL NAVY CRAFT AND A SQUADRON OF EIGHT ROYAL AIR FORCE WESSEX HELICOPTERS. THE TOTAL COST AT CURRENT PRICES IS ESTIMATED AT HK$450M (42-1/2H POUNDS-STELLING) A YEAR, COMPARED WITH THE COST OF THE PRESENT GARRISON OF LEARLY HK$700M COUW POUN 3-STERLING). HONG KONG WILL HAVE TO DEAR A SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER PROPORTION OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE GARRISON THAN IN. THE PASTE BUT THE SIZE OF THE CONTRIBUTION WILL HAVE REALISTIC REGARD TO BONG KONG'S ABILITY TO PAY.
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DURI THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK'S NEGOTIATIONS THE BASIS FOR SWARING THE COSTS WAS THE MAJOR POINT UNDER DISCUSSION. OTHER PORITS TERLUDED THE RELEASE OF FURTHER LAND AT PRESENT OCCUPIED BY THE GARISON, THE METHOD OF CALCULATING COSTS AND THE RATES OF EXCHANGE! LED, AND THE FORMULA TO DE EMPLOYED TO REFLECT ANY IL·LATION THERE WILL DE FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THESE MATTERS.
BOTH GOVERNMENTS HOPE FOR AN EARLY AND SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT SO THAT AN AGREEME IT CAN DE CONCLUDED AND DETAILS MADE KNOUN DEFORE THE GOD OF MIE YEAR.
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