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the Financial Secretary does not reveal the content of the discussion which took place in the Bahama meeting, how could the public obtain facts to base their comments on?
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Britain is constantly trying to take advantage of Hong Kong in the recent years to solve its own financial problem. Since Britain is greatly reducing its own defence costs and yet hoping that the strength of the defence line in Asia will be maintained, it is highly likely that Britain will transfer the burden of the defence costs onto the shoulders of the Hong Kong citizens.
Hong Kong is a British Colony, and Britain should be responsible for its defence costs, and the maintenance of its political stability, especially when they are closely related to Britain's own commercial well-being.
Britain has the duty to protect Hong Kong. Hong Kong is already responsible for a large Garrison fee and has thus fulfilled its obligation, especially in view of the large reserve Hong Kong has in the British banks. Britain should not be too demanding.
The British Garrison in Hong Kong is a link in the British defence line in Asia. After the withdrawal of the British forces from Malaysia and Singapore. Hong Kong has become a base for British military aid to Malaysia and Singapore. Thus the duty of the British Garrison in Hong Kong is multifold and the latter should not be held entirely responsible for the defence costs.
Hong Kong Garrison is a symbolic defence line. If there were military agressions from foreign powers, the British Garrison here will be insufficient to defend Hong Kong.
The British Garrison can be said to be useful for protecting the lives and property of British immigrants in Hong Kong. We can also say that the Garrison symbolises Britain and the Western Allies' responsibility to defend Hong Kong. This is supposed to give Hong Kong a sense of security. But in actual fact, the British Garrison has nothing to do with our internal peace and order. The armed forces here are enthusiastic in performing services for the people of the New Territories, but this is merely a kind of crusade.
In the past, our safety has been threatened by riots, influx of refugees and natural disasters, and the main force that helped us to overcome them was the Police Force, and not the Army. The $800 million proposed Garrison fee will be better used if allocated to the Police Force to strengthen and to improve it.
Hong Kong is not wealthy, and its prosperity is only an empty shell. It will be difficult for Hong Kong to bear such a financial burden. Moreover, Hong Kong urgently needs large sums of money for various public work projects and social work, If the $840 million could be used on building underground railways, providing free secondary education and improving medical services etc., in the next five years, Hong Kong will be greatly improved. It does not seem fair to deprive the Hong Kong citizens of such amenities by contributing this sum of money to the defence costs.
Britain should be responsible for the greater part of the defence costs. If Hong Kong has to be held partly responsible the amount required should be determined by its ability. We think that the most
/reasonable
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