TNAG-0061-FCO40-97-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 81

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H.K.A.E.C.

So far as finance is concerned, the

Amisters agreed

Committee consider that it would be premature

to attempt to decide now where the costs of the

garrison should be borne and called for a

further assessment to be made of the actual

costs involved.

Con the whole, we regard this

ome

as reasonably satisfactory, although I think

Nuuters

we must regard the Committeete conclusion

about the Hunter aircraft as representing only

conditional approval for a fighter presence,

{we

we have managed to get our foot in the door

against considerable professional opposition.

So far as the financial side is concerned, we

have at least gained time and I think we have

managed to stymie, at any rate for the time

being, any attempt to base financial contri-

butions on the artificial and unrealistic

differentiation (in Hong Kong circumstances)

between the external defence and internal

security roles of the military forces.

This, I Muirk

пийте

you

will

адне

is

a

*

pretty satisfactory artcome.

that the

It seems to we

most important thing now to

concentrate on is the possibility of

Eve

Huurters being manned & serviced hover Coral

resources

It would be most helpful bus

here if you could kindly keep us in the

pichere on

how this is progressing

Heathe

Masar's forthcoming isit will perhaps be

ан

opportunity for heir to bring herself

up to date on this matter

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