TNAG-0310-FCO40-346-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 206

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 12/0823Z

SECRET

SECRET

TOP COPY

LAST REF.

NEXT

REF.

126 134

AUGUST.

1.31

TO PRIORITY F.C.O. TELNO 549 OF 10

PERSONAL FOR MONSON FROM GOVERNOR.

MY TEL NO. 528 : DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN PERSONAL AND INFORMAL ÉXPRESSIONS

OF VIEW FROM ALL CURRENT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,

AND IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY AT LEAST WOULD

SUPPORT THE PROPOSALS I PUT FORWARD IN LONDON IN JUNE, BUT THAT THERE WOULD BE FIRM RESISTANCE TO ANY MORE ONEROUS AGREEMENT

(EXCEPT POSSIBLY IN ONE CASE).

2.

WHILE IT BY NO MEANS FOLLOWS THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD ACCEPT MY SUGGESTIONS ALSO, THERE ARE

AT PRESENT TWO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS (SZETO WAI AND WOO) TEMPORARILY ON EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WHICH MAY BE A NOT UNHOPEFUL

SIGN.

3.

I MOST SINCERELY HOPE YOU WILL FEEL ABLE TO REVERT TO

MY PROPOSAL. OTHERWISE I SEE NOT EVEN A SPORTING CHANCE OF

AVOIDING AN OPEN COLLISION WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.

TRENCH

FILE S

HKD ·

FED

DEFENCED

FPAD

ATD

CCD

PS

SIRS CRAWFORD

SIR L MONSON

SIR S TOMLINSON MR ROSE

RED IN REGISTRY No.51

10 AUG 1971

HICK lola

SECRET

COPIES TO:

MR T J BRACK

TREASURY

MR A F THORPE FI(AIR) MOD

MR R J SMITH DOELB

MR P D NAIRNE MOD

MR G GELDING TREASURY

MR E STRETTON DOELB

MR F H GYYNN MOD