TNAG-0309-FCO40-345-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 73

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

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either. by using the official majority The Colony's Legislative Council,

(c)

To adopt the Governor's suggestion

(paragraph 6 above).

(a) To accept the offer of the Unofficial

Members of the Governor's Executive Council

(paragraph 5 above).

contribution/by

(a) would undoubtedly involve the imposition of such a contribution/by the exercise of Her Majesty's reserve

Either of thes powers under the Hong Kong constitution with all that courses could have serious consequmar. that would involve.

a semitas Curse of

(b) also would probably involve the exercise of those

acha.

powers.

(a) is not, in my view, an acceptable solution since

Hong Kong can afford and should make a higher

contribution than £7 million per annum.

8.

It is likely that even a contribution on the basis

option (c) suggested by the Governor (para 6-above) would meet

· with considerable opposition in Hong Kong; and even if

the Governor's unofficial advisers on the Executive

Council could be persuaded to support it, it might well

even

encounter stiffer opposition from the Unofficial

Members of the Legislative Council (whose subsequent

agreement would be required before the funds could be

voted in the Colony's budget). But the Governor

considers that his suggestions offer some hope of

reaching a settlement and I accordingly recommend the (an additional condition providing for adoption of (c) above coupled with provision for a

review after five years if the recurrent costs of the

500

by them garrison had increased by more than over April 1971

八

costs.

However, my Cabinet colleagues may wish ta

consider the other possibilities open to us.

A

3.

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