TNAG-0310-FCO40-346-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 41

SECRET

to let us have a report on press and public reaction-

2

to the matter. This he has now sent is in his

telegram no 762 he uprien that "the whole sulyest

мрител

has no

3 The Governor has always stressed the importance

9

feared it

so far as public opinion in Hong Kong is concerned,

of the right presentational approach to this question; and

However, I think that the Financial Secretary, Hong

Kom rather overdid this aspect when introducing the

resolution into the Legislative Council. He there

stated that Her Majesty's Government had initially

asked for a contribution of £60 million over the five-

year period of the agreement but that Hong Kong

spear

opposition to this request, spearheaded by the

Governor, had succeeded in reducing the demand to

£1million.

حامد

the

Hie Good. Beb one can understand he desire of the Governor

demonchiate

(and his advisers to make it clear to the public at

large that they had done their best on Hong Kong's

underdrandable.

im

behalf in the negotiations with Her Majesty's

Government.

tAt no time during our negotiations

The

Bat

dra

with the Hong Kong Government we present the

with a demand for defence contribution amounting

to as much se £60 million over 5 years

Could..

ith Gove ни

С

•

Financial

Reuter's re

R

tary's statement gave rise

Hong Kong with resulting

enquiries (here from the BBC and Reuters These

Ang denguin

quiries/placed us in a somewhat difficult position.

and in replying to them we accordingly confined our

по

(although a sum

this onder wes

mentioned

course of the

Gate discuss.

it

the Gren

4. We han had

selves to saying that this waspal Jagen for report on

Velegne

to

No. 742.

to which we could not comment without referchel to Hong

we

KOTE We informed the Governor accordingly,

B

the

2. SECRET

thav

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

12

B