SECRET
*
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL SITUATION IN THE COLONY AND THE DEFENCE
CONTRIBUTION BEING MADE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY SPECIFIC
RULES OR FORMULAE” AS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND
HMC
COULD SURELY BE CONCEDED, AND HMG HAVE NEVER SUGGESTED
THAT THE DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION SHOULD TAKE AUTOMATIC PRIORITY
OVER ALL OTHER COMMITMENTS. IN PARAGRAPH 12 OF YOUR TELEGRAM
NO. 235, THE POINT IN PARAGRAPH 15 OF THE MEMORANDUM HAS
VIRTUALLY BEEN MET, AS I TOLD THE MEETING, AND COULD BE CONVEYED
MORE FORMALLY.
6. I REALISE THAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS STICKING-POINT IS MORE
DIFFICULT, BUT AGAIN I WOULD STRONGLY ADVISE SOME GESTURE TO
ENCOURAGE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO COME INTO THE OPEN WITH SOME PROPOSAL OF THEIR OWN IN THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD NOT BE TOO
UNACCEPTABLE A ONE IN FACT, ONCE THEY CAN BE GOT TO APPLY
THEIR MINDS, THEY ARE NOT UNINGENIOUS IN THINKING UP WAYS OF
GETTING AROUND PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS IN FRESH WAYS. I HAVE
SOME INDICATIONS THAT THEY ARE IN FACT TURNING A COUNTER-
PROPOSAL OVER IN THEIR MINDS WHICH YOU MIGHT NOT FIND UNACCEPT-
ABLE: BUT THEY WILL NOT COME OUT WITH IT WHILE THEY FEEL THEM-
SELVES WHOLLY INHIBITED FROM MAKING IT.
51
7.
IN MY TELEGRAM NO. 250 I HAVE MADE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR A
POSSIBLE REPLY TO THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I CANNOT OF COURSE SAY FOR SURE WHAT EFFECT IT WILL HAVE, EVEN IF IT PROVES AGREEABLE TO YOU, BUT IT IS THE BEST I CAN DEVISE.
8. THIS TELEGRAM AND MY TELEGRAM NO. 250 WERE DRAFTED BEFORE
YOUR TELEGRAM.NO. 266 WAS RECEIVED, BUT BOTH HAVE BEEN AMENDED TO
TAKE YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 266 INTO ACCOUNT.
TRENCH
FILES
H.K.D.
F.E.D.
DEFENCE DEPT
F.P.A.D.
A.T.D.
C.C.D.
PRIVATE SECRETARY
P.S. TO P.U.S.
SIR L MONSON
COPIES TO
MR D.J.J. BRACK. H M TREASURY
MR A.F.THORFE, FI (AIR) 2 MOD MR R.J.SMITH, DOE.IAMBETH BDGE
MR P.D. NAIRNE, MOD
HOUSE
MR R GEDLING, H.M. TREASURY
MR E STRETTON, DOE. LAMBETH BDGE
HOUSE.
SIR S TOMLINSON
MR WILFORD
MR F.H.GWYNN MOD
MR ROSE
41
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