TNAG-0255-FCO40-291-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 138

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PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TO HONG KONG

27 OCTOBER 1970 · (H.K.D.)

TELEGRAM NUMBER 728

SECRET. 271715Z

FOR BLACKWELL FOR LAIRD.

YOUR TELNO BTC 82.

ZUMELCO MEETING/

STRICTLY FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION POSITION IS THAT WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO AGREE A FIGURE FOR THE DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION WITH THE GOVERNOR WHICH HE WILL THEN TRY TO PERSUADE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO ACCEPT. IF ALL GOES WELL, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL THEN OFFER A CONTRIBUTION TO HMG. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE INOPPORTUNE AT THIS

JUNCTURE TO EXPOSE ANY SURFACE AT ALL.

2. WE UNDERSTAND FROM MOD THAT MEETING ON 3 NOVEMBER HAS BEEN ARRANGED TO ENABLE CBF TO EXPLAIN TO UMELCO FUNCTIONS OF HM ARMED FORCES IN HONG KONG. IN CIRCUMSTANCES WE SUGGEST THAT YOU EITHER EXCUSE YOURSELF FROM ATTENDING MEETING OR ELSE ATTEND AND EXPLAIN IF DEFENCE COSTS QUESTION ARISES, THAT THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF YOUR CONCERN AND THAT YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECT. WE FURTHER SUGGEST THAT YOU CONSULT ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY

AS TO WHICH OF THESE COURSE S WOULD BE PREFERABLE.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

HONG KONG DEPT. FAR EASTERN DEPT. DEFENCE DEPT. SIR L. MONSON MR. WILFORD

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

4 COPIES U.N.DEPT.

COPIES TO:

FI AIR, M.0.0.

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