TNAG-0063-FCO40-99-Defence-extra-costs-arising-from-the-internal-security-situa-1968 — Page 91

HWB 10/16

CONFIDENTIAL

4 October, 1967.

со

I am sorry not to have replied earlier to your letter AUS(P & B)/175 of 13 September about extra charges arising out of military assistance to the civil authorities in Hong Kong.

There must have been some misunder- standing about what Galsworthy said at the "Under Secretaries meeting" on Hong Kong attended by Major Coe. We were not at that meeting dealing with the general issue raised in this correspondence but with the question of the erection of a second border fence, both its political and financial aspects. Major Coe was able to supply us with some tentative but very helpful estimates of cost. Galsworthy acknowledged that the cost of this fence, or any part of it, was not a proper charge on Defence Votes since it was in the nature of an immigration control measure.

If

We must reserve our position on the general issue. It is our understanding that no charges have yet been raised. and when they are to be, we would be grateful for details, not only of amounts but also of the nature of the services rendered.

LAST

RE

(H.P. Hall)

CONFIDENTIAL

12) 15

E.G. CASS, ES4., 0.B.E.