IKK 10/9
TIME COPY
23
27 May 1969..
Dear Haynes,
I am sorry that it has not been possible to write to you earlier about the proposal to station a unit of fighter aircraft in Hong Kong. The proposal, as put to us by Whitmore in his letter DS 8/39/8 of 5 February to Campbell, was relayed to the Governor of Hong Kong for his views which we have now
received.
2.
The fact that it is planned to establish the fightor aircraft in Hong Kong by March 1970 presents the Governor with
He had not major and seemingly insuperable difficulties. expected that any liability on this account would arise before 1971 by which date the new defence contribution would have been negotiated. His intention was to "bury" in those overall negotiations an element in respect of the unit, without the need to specify in dealing with the Hong Kong Legislature that
The funds were being voted for this specific purpose. Governor considers (and wo entirely agree with him) that it is essential ho should avoid having to go to his Executive and Legislative Councils for additional funds for this purpose during the currency of the existing defence contribution agreement. To do so would raise all the ill-feeling and animosity engendered when the existing contribution was negotiated; the prospecta of
and
their agreeing to voto the necessary funds would be remote; a successful outcome of the negotiations on the post-1971 defence contribution would be seriously prejudiced. He has expressed the view that this course would be so difficult and dangerous that he would rather forego the fighters than attempt
it.
LAST
REF.
R. HAYNES, ESQ.,
व
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE.
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