TNAG-0308-FCO40-344-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 69

From: A. F. Thorp OBE,

S SECRET

Head of F1(Air)

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Main Building, Whitehall, LONDON S.W.I

Telephone: WHItehall 7022, ext.7189

Head of F1(Air)/7659

Our reference: A/16/ABD/6305

Your reference:

53

A. W. Gaminara, Esq

Hong Kong Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Downing Street

LONDON SW1

Leean Gannan

Кест

Hong Kong Defence Contribution

RETSTVED IN REGTEY N.51

73 APR 1971

படமிட

HKILI

7 April 1971

I understand from Geoffrey Gammon that you wish to have our written comments on the Governor's telegrams Nos. 225 and 226 in advance of a meeting of the Treasury, DOE and ourselves this afternoon.

2. So far as telegram No. 225 is concerned, I do not think there is any comment I can usefully make, except on the size of the Hong Kong garrison in 1950/1 (paragraph 3(B)). On 1 April 1950, it consisted of 17 major units and a Commando Brigade.

By 1 August 1950, due to the Korean War, 3 major units and the Commando Brigade were withdrawn, leaving 13 major units. However, this seems scarcely relevant to the present discussions of the future size of the Hong Kong government's contribution between now and 1976.

3. As regards telegram No. 226, I see no reason why we should not concede the point that, for public consumption, the future contribution should not be related to any particular set of figures or principles. Nevertheless, we should make it clear that, in the context of the confidential discussions between HMG and the Hong Kong Government, we stand by our previously expressed view that, as a proportion of the total cost to the United Kingdom of maintaining a garrison in Hong Kong, the contribution made by the Hong Kong Government should be no

This means, in effect, that less than the one negotiated in 1966.

£8.5 millions is the minimum we feel able to accept.

4.

The Governor also referred to the amount of the German

I can do no contribution in respect of British forces in Germany.

of State's written reply in better than refer you to your Secretary the House of Commons on 18 March, in which he said that we would be paid £62.5M or thereabouts for a five year period by the Federal

SECRET

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/Government