TSX. 1/57
Mr Thomas, MG
الابط
2419
P...
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
7. Gamfara fr
Dear Bunny Вишу
HONG KONG
2419
40
15 September 1969
Thank you for your letter DP 4/393/1 of 27th August, 1969 mainly concerning the stationing of Hunter aircraft in Hong Kong, or alternative arrangements in the event that the stationing of Hunters is for one reason or another not acceptable.
2. When we had our discussion with Mr. Healey I made it clear that we regarded post-1971 visits by R. A. F. aircraft in the course of Far Eastern training flights as being very much a second-best solution, and this remains my view; but, given Her Majesty's Government's inability to station Hunters here on any terms to which it would be practicable to obtain agreement at the present stage, I have given further thought to the alternative proposals, and recognising the limited effects that we can expect such visits to produce, I should now like formal approval for the arrangements to be sought, subject to the comments that follow.
3. The costs that you refer to in connection with routine transport movement do not appear to be directly connected with this question, and I hope we can avoid establishing any connection however tenuous. The works are, I understand, necessary for the handling of VC 10 aircraft within the R. A. F. area and between it and the runway, and are of no direct concern to us.
4. The second figure of £100,000 to which you refer is clearly in rather a different category, since it relates to works stated to be necessary to enable the runway itself to stand up to use by Phantom aircraft. I do not know the basis upon which you have been advised about this, but it seems fairly clear from consultations that we have had here that there is no actual requirement for any works to be carried out. The Commander R. A. F. Kai Tak has had the benefit of technical advice
W. S. Carter, Esq. C. V. O.
Hong Kong Department
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
LONDON. S. W.1.
SECRET
LAST
38
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51
10 OCT 1969
HKILO
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