TNAG-0254-FCO40-290-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 56

of the cost of its internal security measures by the

IV

end of the period covered by the agreement, we would it might be

reconsider the size of the garrison.

3. I think it is worth recalling also that our

objective in proceeding as we have on this occasion,

with the Governor giving us informally the best

figure which he thinks he might be able to convince his

advisers to accept, was to prevent a repetition of the

events of 1966. If we are to go back badly and tell-

him in effect that what we want ie about £12 million

there will undoubtedly be an explosion.

bes

It is worth

remembering that The Governor has to persuade his

unofficial advisers how much of the cost of the

ал й

Colony's defence is a reasonable charge against Hong

will remembering that after he had visited Hong Kong in 1966,

Kong's funds.

for the express purpose of encouraging the present

contribution, the then Secretary of State for the

Colonies went on record as saying that "there was a

very real possibility at one stage that unofficial

members would feel obliged to tender their resignations But fortunately under the strong leadership of the

and

r

the

accepted the

Governor the majority of unofficials expected & need for

an increase and evolved the offer to culbute £5 million

a year for a period of 4 years".

heeenny

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