TNAG-0309-FCO40-345-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 16

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MY PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT IS THAT I HAVE VIRTUALLY NO HOPE OF OBTAINING ANY AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS. THE ARGUMENT IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 1 IS UNPERSUASIVE HERE, FOR REASONS ALREADY REPORTED COLON. NAMELY, THAT IT IS NEITHER STRICTLY TRUE NOR RELEVANT, THE FINAL FIGURE OF 69 MILLION P.A. WILL IN PARTICULAR BE LIKELY TO MEET OPPOSITION FROM THOSE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE REASONABLY WELL DISPOSED.

8. IT IS ALSO PROBABLE THAT IF THESE PROPOSALS PROVE UNACCEPTABLE LOCALLY, AS I EXPECT, THE ORDER-IN-COUNCIL METHOD WILL BE THOUGHT TO BE THE LEAST DAMAGING WAY OF PROCEEDING,

TRENCH

FILES

HONG KONG DEPT

FAR EASTERN DEFT

DEFENCE DEPT

F.P.A.D.

A. & T.D.

C/W CO-ORDINATION DEPT

PRIVATE SECRETARY

SIR S CRAWFORD

SIR I MONSON

SIR S TOMLINSON

MR D A SCOTT

MR ROSE

MR TURPIN

COPIES TO

MR T.J. BRACK, TREASURY MR A.F. THORPE, F1 (AIR)

MR R.J. SMITH, DOELB

MR.P.D. NAIRNE, MOD

MR G GEDLING, TREASURY

MR E STRETTON

MR F.H. GWYNN,

DOELB

MOD

MOD

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