TNAG-0307-FCO40-343-Costs-of-extra-services-provided-by-armed-forces-of-UK-in-Ho-1971 — Page 45

6.泉

seemed reasonable for HMG to meet the

costs."

The Ministry of Defence'sclaim for

reimbursement is based on the fact that

in 1968, similar works were carried out

by the Military on other border positions

Exercise "Spring Clean"). In this case

the Hong Kong Government accepted

liability for meeting the costs involved

and reimbursed the Ministry of

action Defence accordingly. This decision was

taken in accordance with a policy

decision by the Hong Kong Government in

accepted

March 1968 that it remained responsibility

for the maintenance of all buildings

required for operational reasons in the

border area whether these be occupied by

the Army or the Police.

The

Ministry

of Defence accordingly maintain that

having accepted liability for the works

involved in "Spring Clean", the Hong Kong

Government should likewise accept respons

bility for the works carried out under

"Highland Bonnet". They similarly

argue that after they had been called upon

in 1967 to assist the Hong Kong Police

on the border it would not have been

feasible for them to have waited on the

off chance of a Hong Kong Government

announcement accepting financial

responsibility for the particular works

in question.

/The Hong Kong

4

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Page 45NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN