TNAG-0308-FCO40-344-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 228

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IT BOTH AS JUSTIFYING A REASONABLE INCREASE IN YOUR FIGURE OF £7 AND A HALF MILLION AND AS BEING THE KIND OF EXPENDITURE WHICH IT WILL BE EASIEST TO JUSTIFY TO YOUR UNOFFICIAL ADVISERS. IN THE

HOPE THAT YOU WILL AGREE THAT SOME INCREASE OVER £7 AND A HALF MILLION CAN BE OFFERED, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE INDICATION OF WHAT FIGURE YOU ARE PREPARED TO TRY FOR. 6. THERE IS NOW NO HOPE OF GETTING THIS MATTER TO MINISTERS BEFORE THE RETURN OF PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FROM SINGAPORE TOWARDS THE END OF JANUARY. IF THIS DELAY IS LIKELY TO PRESENT DIFFICULTIES AS REGARDS THE INCLUSION OF AN AGREED FIGURE FOR THE DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION IN YOUR DRAFT ESTIMATES, YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER THE ADVISABILITY OF HAVING PRELIMINARY CONSULTATIONS NOW

WITH YOUR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. THIS WOULD AT LEAST ENABLE YOU TO LET US HAVE THEIR REACTIONS BASED ON ACTUAL CONSULTATIONS INSTEAD OF ON GUESSWORK, ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT H.M.G. WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCEPT SUCH FIGURES AS THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE IN MIND.

WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO RECEIVE YOUR VIEWS ON ADVISABILITY OF THIS COURSE AT THE SAME TIME AS YOUR REPLY TO PARAGRAPH 5 ABOVE,

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SIR L MONSON MR VILFORD

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COPIES TO:

MR RJ SMITH

DOE

LAMBETH BRIDGE HOUSE

MR BRACK TREASURY

MR A F THORPE OBE

ROON 0257 MOD

MR E G WHITE

FINANCE DEPT