NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
W(B)L 51-7406
SECRET
ці
When in May 1968 The Defenu & Oveneas Policy Committee
approved the force
levels
q
The post-
Minister
1971 Garrison
It was neverthelese clear that the
Evere
Ministry of Defence expecting their votes to be reimbursed to the not less than extent of not Живе
my budgetary cost of forces attributed to The internal security, role of the Gameson,
State) with great difficulty and the agreement,
when announced, aroused unanimous public opposi-
tion locally.
Serious political consequences
he were to seek a version
could arise if this matter were to 2 the contribution
be raised
again during the currency of the present agree-
had
ment: this is a factor that has to be taken
into account in deciding whether or not fighter
aircraft should be repositioned in the Colony
before April 1971, when the present agreement
expires (See Annex). Defines a Durres Peting Committe
Policy
In May 1968 Ministers decided (for) to
it's defer consideration of where the costs of the-
post-1974 garrison should be borne pending a
full assessment of the cost of the Hong Kong
N3/$7
(commitment.
When the Defence Secretary visited
AM
Hong Kong in June 1969, the Governor suggested
to him that as a first step in preparing for
the negotiations over the post-1971 defence
contribution agreement, officials of the Hong
Kong Government should work out a figure for
Hong Kong's contribution, both in relation to
the size of the garrison and to what would be
politically acceptable in Hong Kong. This
would then be put to the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office and if the latter (after
consultation with the other Departments con-
cerned) considered the figure to be a reasonable
one, the Governor could put it to his Executive
Council at the appropriate time. If the latter
agreed the figure, it could then be put forward
as an offer by the Hong Kong Government, thus
avoiding any appearance of its being a demand
by Her Majesty's Government. Mr. Healey agreed
that such an approach seemed sensible and as a
result the Governor has been addressed in terms
is attache's of a letter, a copy of which forms the annex to this mate. The terms of the letter were agreed
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