TNAG-0179-FCO40-215-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-Garrison-1970 — Page 163

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27 May 1969.

Dear Maynes,

I am sorry that it has not been possible to writo 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

The fact that it is planned to establish the fighter 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 funds were being voted for this specific purpose. Governor considers (and wo entirely agree with him) that it is essential he should avoid having to go to his Lxecutive 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 prospects of their agreeing to vote the necessary funds would be remote; a successful outcome of thegotiations 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.

and

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R. HAYNES, ESQ.,

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塔

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE.

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221 Cops sent to yeah D.P?.

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