No. TSX 1/57
국
f
SECRET
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG.
N.. Gammaru
ANNEX C
We shall have to
Submit this to higher autharding before going back to M.O.D.
ble April, 1969.
lose
25/4
Dear Bunny
Thank you for your letter of 18th February about the Hunter aircraft. I note that the proposel would be to establish the Hunters here in March 1970 and that one effect of this if it is agreed to proceed with the proposal is that there would have to be a decision on the meeting of the costs this Spring. In this connection you have mentioned three points
(a)
(b)
(0)
the Chiefs of Staff have reiterated their stipulation that the costs should not be borne by the Defence Budget
apart from the recurrent costs of £335,000 a year, the question arises of a capital payment of £140,000 for the purchase of the aircraft
it is necessary to determine how any payment for the Hunters should relate to the present and post-1971 defence contributions.
The major difficulty we are faced with is the proposal to establish the Hunters bere by March 1970. I think when this whole thing first started, the need for fighters based here was not going to arise until March 1971 or so, and it was HMG's decision to hasten the withdrawal from Singapore by a year which has brought forward the date.
3. Be that as it may, in our various discussions here and in London on the subject which were devoted almost wholly to the need for fighters and the possibility of cheapening the cost of
W.S.Carter Esq., C.V.O.,
Hong Kong Department
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
London.
SECRET
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