TNAG-0255-FCO40-291-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 98

Our reference: 10/1

Your reference: HK K 10/9

4. 0. Laird, Esq.,

SECRET

BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG 7th Floor, Shell House, Queen's Road, Central, HONG KONG Mail Address: P.O. Box No. 528, Hong Kong Cable Address: "Uktrade Hongkong" Telephone: 230176

Hong Kong Department,

Foreign & Commonwealth Office,

London, S.W.1.

Daw Millard,

17 November, 1970.

80

Serijalug En

23

Thank you for your letter of 5 November about the CBF's briefing of Umelco.

It was one of the Chinese unofficial members I forget which

A

one who asked the question about the armed forces in Hong Kong being used elsewhere in S.E. Asia. I presume he only meant to ask whether forces in Hong Kong could be used as a reservoir and drawn upon in case of need in other parts of the region, for instance, if there were to be renewed Communist troubles in Malaya. He did not say whether he was opposed to such use but my assumption was that he feared a) that this might reduce the effectiveness of the deterrent in Hong Kong: b) it might annoy the mainland Chinese by involving Hong Kong troops in anti-Communist activities in S.E.Asia and c) the local Chinese themselves would prefer that Hong Kong should not be so involved. This assumption is, I admit, based on my conversations with local Chinese and was not expressed at this meeting. In fact, the unofficial member said nothing more than I reported.

The CBF replied that it was not intended to draw upon Hong Kong forces for purposes outside the Colony or words to that effect.

J.K.Blackwell

Senior British Trade Commissioner

JKB: jms

1HKK10/2

Kazı

PA

SECRET

Kennett

on defence contitate file AS

22.11.20

-Every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors or omis- sions in that information and no responsibility is accepted in regard to the standing of any firms, companies, or individuals mentioned.