TNAG-0308-FCO40-344-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 129

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Reference.....

Mr. Gaminara, Hong Kong Department

"RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No.51

35

23 MAR 1/1

Никто

Hong Kong:

Defence Contribution

Would you please refer to your minute of

ch

enclosing copies of Hong Kong telegrams Nos. 134 and 144.

2. Although this Department holds no papers regarding HMG's financial policy on the subject of the extent to which dependent territories should or should not contribute towards the cost of British forces stationed in those territories, the following information has been assembled from the sources stated below.

The Ministry of Defence Miss Hare; (FI Air) Ministry of Defence, extn.7026) has drawn attention to a paper published by the War Office, as it was in 1963, reference No. (ODC) (60) 4 (Final) of 22 April 1963. The main arguments set out in this paper are stated to be that:

(a) Colonial Governments are responsible for

providing their own IS Forces; should financial assistance prove to be necessary then this Could be made available from F.C.0. Votes;

(b) if assistance became necessary in the context

of Commonwealth defence generally and this were beyond the normal requirements for the maintenance of IS Forces in the territory, then this assistance would be provided from U.K. Defence Votes (MOD). This arrangement would not necessarily preclude those governments of dependent territories which had adequate financial resources from being asked or volunteering to make some financial contribution towards the cost; and

(c) HMG would also provide financial assistance

from MOD Votes in IS and external defence cases arising in dependent territories considered to be of "sufficient strategic importance". Once again a territory with substantial financial resources would be expected to contribute towards the cost of such assistance.

has not been

The original of the War office pad by Hory Rory Dept.)

seen in this Department.

tπbopy,

now held

4. The policy outlined above in the War Office paper is fully consistent with HMG's general policy towards dependent territories that they should be encouraged, wherever possible, to adopt a responsible attitude towards their local problems. The maintenance of their own internal security forces (i.e. Police) and a contribution where possible to assistance provided by HMG represents one aspect of this policy.

1.

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