DAILY TELEGRAPH
Cutting dated
1. JAN 1969.
19
DEFENCE COST CONTROVERSY IN HONGKONG
By Our Defence Correspondent
The cost of Britain's garrison in Hongkong, now about 10,000 men, has again become the sub- ject of political controversy, both in London and the Crown Colony. In London it is admitted in official circles that the Govern- ment will want further talks on Hongkong's defence bill in due
course
This follows a statement on Hongkong radio on Monday by Mr. P. B. Williams, the Colony's Deputy Defence Secretary, that negotiations will be necessary "to see who will pay" for the extra Gurkha battalion to be stationed there after 1971.
Under a five-year agreement which expires in 1971 Hongkong contributes about £5 million a year to the cost of the garrison, but the British Government has recently been reluctant to reveal what that cost is. According to Mr. Williams it is £17.8 million a year, to which Hongkong con- tributes £5.5 million.
But in a Parliamentary answer on Dec. 4 Dr. David Owen, Par- liamentary Under-Secretary of Defence for the Navy, told Mr.. Eldon Griffiths (Con, Bury St. Edmunds) that local defence ex- penditure cost Britain £6 million after allowing for £412 million paid by Hongkong, making a total of only £1012 million.
No. Camparan
The 2017 have been talking here?
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PA, on garrison file.
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6.169.
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