TNAG-0309-FCO40-345-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 87

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

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written representations on the subject to the

Secretary of State. The arguments put forward in

those representations centred mainly round the

following points:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The Unofficial Members had never accepted

Her Majesty's Government's contention that

Colonial Governments were entirely

responsible for all aspects of their own

As the mother country

internal security.

Britain had an obligation to defend a

Colonial territory against both external

aggression and internal subversion.

In the

particular circumstances of Hong Kong these

were

two elements are complimentary and both

required the presence of British troops.

The defence contribution could not be

considered in isolation from the vast

expenditure facing Hong Kong in the

spheres of housing, education and other

social services, airport development, public

transport and other major public works.

The Unofficial Members maintained that in

the course of the 1966 negotiations over the

defence contribution, they were given to

understand by the responsible United Kingdom

Ministers that every endeavour would be made,

in consideration of an increased defence

contribution, to assist the Colony

financially in some other way; in this

connection they particularly mentioned the

•

extension of the Kai Tak airport.

NB Despite the fullest search and enquiries

no record can be traced of any Such

undertaking.)

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