TNAG-0308-FCO40-344-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 77

45

OSINO

Treasury Chambers

Great George Street, London S.W.1

Telephone: 01-930 1234, ext. 555

५१

Our reference: 2DM 415/01

Your reference:

A W Gaminara Esq

SECRET

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Whitehall

London SW 1

Dear Gamimard, Сташиса,

HONG KONG DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION

31 March 1971

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Budget Speech yesterday a further reduction in the UK's overseas debts.

2

The figure for these debts which we recently gave the Governor of Hong Kong is thus now out of date. You may feel that additional instructions should be sent on the following lines:-

"With reference to paragraph 3 of my Tel No 235, you should note that in the Budget Speech on 30 March the Chancellor announced that HMG's outstanding short and medium-term overseas debt has now been reduced to £683m.

If Unofficial Members observe on this and in consequence attempt to question the argument in the fourth sentence of paragraph 2 of the reply in Tel No 236 you should point out that although good progress continues to be made with repayment a figure of nearly £700m of debt still represents a very large burden for us.

11

3 I am copying this letter to Thorp (MOD) and Smith (DOE).

PED IN R GILTRY No.51

NICK 10

PA

بلو

1.4.1.

SECRET

Jous sucessf

TJ BRACK