TNAG-0308-FCO40-344-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 143

SECRET

ECIFIC RULES OR FOR MILAE SEMICOLON BUT THE AMOUNT FUST HAVE DUE

REGARD TO HONG KONG'S OTHER FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS INCLUDING

SE REFERRED TO IN PARA. 5 ABOVE. THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION OF

THE DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION TAKING AUTOMATIC PRIORITY OVER SUCH

OTHER COMMIT: ENTS.

15.

ANY CONTRIBUTION VOLUNTARILY OFFERED BY HONG KONG

HOULD BE SUBJECT TO REDUCTION IF THERE SHOULD BE A SERIOUSLY

ADVERSE CHANGE IN THE COLONY'S ECONOMIC SITUATION

16. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE THE UNOFFICIALS WOULD BE FAILING

IN THEIR DUTY IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC IF THEY WERE

VOLUNTARILY TO ACCEDE TO TOO LARGE A CONTRIBUTION. PUBLIC REACTION

WOULD BE SO UNFAVOURABLE AS TO RENDER THE UNOFFICIALS OF LITTLE

VALUE TO GOVERNMENT IN HELPING TO PERSUADE THE PUBLIC ON

OTHER ISSUES IN THE FUTURE.

17. IT IS REALISED THAT GOVERNMENT IS IN A POSITION TO IMPOSE A

CONTRIBUTION BY USE OF THE OFFICIAL MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL BUT THE UNOFFICIALS CONSIDER THIS WOULD BE INADVISABLE.

SUCH A COURSE WOULD DAMAGE BRITAIN'S IMAGE IN THIS PART OF THE

WORLD.

16.

THE UNOFFICIALS TRUST THAT THEIR VIEWS SET OUT ABOVE WILL DE

CONVEYED TO HM GOVERNMENT.'

BIDS.

TRENCH

FILES:

HKD

FED

DEFENCE DEPT

PS

PS/PUS

SIR L. MONSON

SIR S. TOMLINSON

MR. WITFORD

MR.

&&&&c

D.A. SCOTT

J

COPIES TO:

+

MR. D.J.J. BRACK, TREASURY MR. A.F. THORPE, F1 (AIR) 2, MOD

MR. R.J. SMITH, DOE, LAMBETH BRIDGE HOUSE MR. P.D. NAIRNE, MOD

MR. R. GEDLING, TREASURY

MR. E. STRETTON, DOE, LAMBETH BRIDGE HOUSE MR. E.H. GWYNN, MOD.

- 5 SECRET

<<