0653230
G.F. 323
SIR,
CONFIDENTIAL
FOR FILE
23
downgrouted
*MBARGOED UNTIL 3 P.M, ON 6TH OCTOBER 1971.
Speech by H,J.C. Browne in Leg. Co. on 6.10.71.
The financial commitment for Defence should
normally have been considered at the Budget Debate in
February, and the fact that it has been postponed until
now is some measure, I imagine, of the hard bargaining
that has been going on between Hong Kong and London to
try and negotiate a fair figure.
It is perhaps worth recalling that when the
Defence contribution was last debated in this Council in
March, 1967 the Hon. Colonial Secretary said, and I quote:
"The final sum agreed is very much less than
the original sum asked for and we have
offered it to Britain as a gift in recognition of her very real economic difficulties."
I am glad that the U.K. balance of payments position
has recovered since then.
It is also satisfactory to hear
that the U.K. will be prepared to reconsider the contribution
from Hong Kong if we get into economic difficulties in the next
five years.
I therefore endorse everything my colleage, the Hon.
P.C. Wood, has just said. I think the proposed contribution
is fair in all the circumstances.
We want the Armed Services
here and have not forgotten the help and stability they gave us
during the long hot summer of 1967.
BAR
Confidence can be a fragile concept Hong Kong's
strong economic position results to a large extent from our
overall stability; and it is from this point that I view
Hong Kong's contribution for defence.
NFIDENTIAL
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