TNAG-0279-FCO40-315-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 36

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not paid defence contributions because they have been defended

by essentially local forces paid for from the local budget, to which Her Majesty's Government has contributed as necessary.

Even with the many other calls upon its budget, of

which I am well aware, for the provision and development of

social and other services, I am sure that the Colony's prosperity would enable it, without undue difficulty, to make a substantial contribution towards the cost of its garrison.

After all the presence of that garrison helps in a vital way

to engender and maintain that confidence upon which the whole

I think that the events of economy of the Colony depends.

1967 have shown this to be the case.

Concluding Renarks

I have noted what you have said and I hope that it will

be possible to agree upon a figure for the Hong Kong defence

contribution which will be acceptable to all concerned. (2) For use with Governor/Officials only

I quite understand that this is very delicate ground in

Hong Kong and that many of your unofficial advisers,

supported strongly by public opinion, feel that HMG should

not ask for a higher contribution in view of the pressure on the Colony's resources of the developing social services and

other needs. But I would hope that our own difficult

economic situation, together with the memory of the events of 1967, might lead to a better understanding of what is after

all an obligation of some long-standing by which a Colony

contributes to its own defcnoc.

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