TNAG-0308-FCO40-344-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 141

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TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS INDEED IS THE ABILITY TO PAY OF ANY COLCHTAL

TERRITORY. THE YEARS IMMEDIATELY AHEAD REQUIRE VAST EXPENDITURE

THE EXPANSION OF HOUSING, EDUCATION AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES ALT ENORMOUS SUMS NOT YET CALCULABLE ON AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT,

PUBLIC TRANSPORT, KATER AND CTHER MAJOR PUBLIC ORKS. THE DEFENCE.

CONTRIBUTION CANNOT BE CONSIDERD IN ISOLATION.

C THE UNOFFICIALS CONSIDER THAT, AS THE MOTHER COUNTRY, BRITAIN

H/S AN OBLIGATION TO DEFEND A COLONIAL TERRITORY NOT ONLY AGAINST

EXTERNAL AGGRESSION BUT ALSO AGAINST INTERNAL SUBVERSTON, INSURRECTION AND CIVIL AR. IN THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF

M.NG KONG INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DEFENCE ARE COMPLEMENTARY AND

BOTH REQUIRE THE PRESENCE OF BRITISH TROOPS.

7. HMC SPENDS LARGE SUMS IN DEFENCE AND AID CONTRIBUTIONS

ELSEWHERE AND DOES NOT EXPECT TO BE REIMBURSED. THE SUMS SPENT BY HMG ON THE MAINTENANCE OF TROOPS IN HONG KONG FORM A

CONTRIBUTION BOTH TO BRITAIN'S IMPERIAL DEFENCE SYSTEM

AND TO INTERNAL SECURITY IN HONG KONG. THE COLONY HAS ALSO TO

PAY AS PART OF ITS OWN SHARE TO: APDS INTERNAL SECURITY THE

ENTIRE COST OF MAINTAINING A PARA-MILITARY POLICE FORCE.

8.

1966 THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND BY

THE RESPONSIBLE UK MINISTERS THAT EVERY ENDEAVOUR WOULD BE MADE,

IN CONSIDERATION OF AN INCREASED DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION, TO ASSIST THE COLONY FINANCIALLY IN SOME OTHER WAY. THE SUGGESTION WAS MADE THAT SUCH HELP MIGHT COME IN CONNECTION WITH TECHNICAL

EDUCATION AND THE EXTENSION OF KAI TAK AIRPORT. MINOR SUMS HAVE

RECENTLY BEEN PROMISED IN THE FORM OF EQUIPMENT FOR TECHNICAL

INSTITUTES BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS GIVEN IN FINANCING THE AIRPORT

EXTENSION. HONG KONG IS UNIQUE AS A DEPENDENT TERRITORY IN

RECEIVING LITTLE FINANCIAL AID FROM UK.

!

2. ON THE CONTRARY HONG KONG CONTRIBUTES SUBSTANTIALLY TO STERLING

BALANCES HELD IN LONDO AND TO BRITISH COMMERCIAL AND TRADING INTER-

ESTS GENERALLY. THE VALUE TO BRITAIN OF THE HONG KONG AIRPORT

SHCULT IN PARTICULAR BE ALLOWED FOR, SINCE BRITAIN OBTAINS SUBST-

ANTIAL BENEFITS FROM THE BILATERAL AGREEMENTS IN WHICH HYG BARTERS

P

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