ปา
158
PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 300834Z
SECRET
RECEEVED INR
REGISTRY No. 51
SUSLP 1971
E T
LABT
REF.
157
TOP COPY
NEXT
159
REF.
171110/4
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 723 OF 30TH SEPTEMBER INFO PRIORITY
HK GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 713.
DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION.
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST YESTERDAY (29TH SEPTEMBER)
CARRIED A REPORT QUOTING LONDON SOURCES' THAT BRITAIN WAS
SEEKING A DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION OF POUNDS STERLING 12 MILLION
A YEAR FROM HONG KONG. THIS REPORT. HAS BEEN PICKED UP IN SEVERAL
CHINESE NEWSPAPERS AND HAS PROVOKED SOME EDITORIAL COMMENT TODAY.
2. THE COMMENT, WHILE RECOGNISING THE NEED FOR THE FORCES IN
HONG KONG, GENERALLY CRITICISES BRITAIN FOR HER EXCESSIVE DEMANDS.
3. IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS WE HAVE SAID **WE ARE UNABLE TO COMMENT
ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE REPORT. AS YOU ARE AWARE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE
BEEN CONTINUING FOR SOME TIME AND A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE
MADE AS SOON AS A FIRM AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED''.
4. GRATEFUL IF YOU WILL TAKE A SIMILAR LINE, THOUGH IT MAY BE ADVISABLE TO GO FURTHER AND BE MORE FORTHCOMING AS TO THE DATE OF THE MOTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. IF
SO WE WILL LET YOU KNOW IMMEDIATELY.
FCO PASS PRIORITY HK GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
TRENCH.
FILES
HKD
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
H K DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION
FED
COPIES TO
DEFENCE D
MR G GODLING
TREASURY
FPAD
ATD
H K GOVERNMENT OFFICE
54 PALL MALL
CCD
PS
PUS
SIR S CRAWFORD
SIR L MONSON
SIR S TOMLINSON
MR ROSE
MR WILFORD
RNNNN
SECRET
ა
уро
Page 105Page 106
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.