TNAG-0308-FCO40-344-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 90

CONFIDENTIA

HONG KONG TOWARDS THE COST OF THE GARRISON IS REASONABLE IN THELIGHT OF THE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION BOTH IN THE COLONY AND IN THE UK, THEY HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE FIGURE OF $8.5 MILLION IS THE MINIMUM THAT COULD BE SO JUSTIFIED.

8. HMG WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HONG KONG IS NOT ONE WHICH CAN OR SHOULD BE VIEWED IN TERMS OF

BUT THE ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES ACCRUING TO EITHER PARTY, AS A RELATIONSHIP WHICH HAS BEEN DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS AND WHICH, DESPITE INEVITABLE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AND OCCASIONAL CLASHES OF INTEREST, WORKS FOR THE ULTIMATE BENEFIT OF BOTH PARTIES. IT IS TRUE THAT IN THE LAST RESORT HMG ARE IN A POSITION TO IMPOSE A CONTRIBUTION BY THE USE OF THE OFFICIAL MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. BUT MINISTERS SHARE THE DISLIKE OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS FOR SUCH AN APPROACH AND WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE NO DESIRE WHATEVER TO ADOPT IT UNLESS NO ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE

COURSE REMAINED OPEN TO THEM.

ENDS.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

HKD

TED

PS FS/FUS

DEFENCE DEPT

SIR L MONSON'

FPAD

A & T D

CCD

SIR S TOMLINSON

MR WILFORD MR D A SCOTT MR ROSE

COPIES TO:

MR D J J BRACK TREASURY

MR A F THORPE F1(AIR) 2 MOD

MR RJ SMITH DOE LAMBETH BRIDGE HSE MR P D NAIRNE MCD

MR R GEDLING TREASURY

MR E STRETTON DOE LAMBETH BRIDGE H. MR FH GWYNN MOD

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