:
SECRET
than they were in 1966.
The Governor will have at least as difficult a task now in persuading his unofficial advisers to accept the figure of £8 million as the Hong Kong contribution as did the Secretary of State for the Colonies when negotiating the present contribution of 85 million in 1966. Although Hong Kong is a depen- dent territory and although the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has, on paper, complete authority over all aspects of the Colony administration, in practice the use of this power in a matter of this importance against the wishes of the unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils could lead to a very serious political and internal security situation in the Colony which would benefit neither Hong Kong nor H.M.G. This Monson sought to explain at our meeting. Whatever our views may be as to the adequacy or otherwise of a contribution by Hong Kong of £8 million, there is no doubt whatever that in Hong Kong eyes such a contribution would be a very realistic one indeed, particularly if the garrison is to remain at its present strength of bf major Army units.
5. For these reasons alone we must rely very heavily on the Governor's own assessment of what he can persuade his advisers to accept. He was very largely instrumental in achieving a settlement of the current contrtkation and we believe that we can rely on him to do his best for us again.
6.
Accordingly, we should prefer to vary the approach to him as set out in your draft letter and for convenience I enclose a revised draft (based on your original draft and taking into account the comments of Goldsmith and Gedling) which I hope that you can accept. If the draft (or something approaching it) is not acceptable I suggest we should have a further meeting.
As you may know Monson
and I shall be visiting Hong Kong with Mr. Royle, our Parliamentary Under Secretary, early next month. Monson has already left and I shall be leaving London on 6 October, In order that we can use our visit to best effect any meeting will, therefore, have to be arrange to take place no later than 5 October.
7. I am sending copies of this letter and its enclogre to Gedling and Stretton.
(K.M. Wilford)
BECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.