TNAG-0310-FCO40-346-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 86

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1342 : LEAD DEFENCE:

HONG KONG, OCT. o, REUTER - THE HONG KONG GOVERN-

166

ME HAS REJECTED A BRITISH REQUEST TO SHOULDER NEARLY HALF OF THE

CO OF MAINTAINING A BRITISH GARRISON HERE, ESTIMATED AT

140 MILLION STERLING OVER THE NEXT FIVE ZARS, IT WAS

ANNOUNCED TODAY.

INSTEAD HONG KONG AGREED TO PAY 40 MILLION STERLING, FINANCIAL SECRETARY C.P. HADDON-CAVE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

UNDER THE NEW DEFENCE AGREEMENT, HONG KONG WILL PAY EIGHT MILLION STERLING ANNUALLY THREE MILLION STERLING MORE THAN IT HAS BEEN PAYING IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS UNDER A 1966 PACT.

MR HADDON-CAVE SAID BRITAIN HAD ASKED FOR 60 MILLION STERLING FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, CITING THE RISING COSTS OF KEEPING BRITISH TROOPS IN THIS CROWN COLONY ON CHINA'S DOORSTEP.

HE SAID THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID TRENCH, QUICKLY POIND OUT THAT SUCH A BIG CONTRIBUTION WAS "QUITE OUT OF THE QUESTION AND QUITE UNREASONABLE. MORE EM/WK

#!

HKK 10/9 (1976)

Ник

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1345 : LEAD DEFENCE 2 HONG KONG:

BRITAIN TRIMMED DOWN ITS DEMAND AFTER DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX NEGOTIATIONS, HE ADDED

OF HONG KONG'S 40 MILLION STERLING CONTRIBUTION, 12 MILLION WILL BE IN CASH AND THE REST IN KIND, LIKE BUILDING MAINTENANCE OF ARMY QUARTERS.

THERE ARE ABOUT 10,000 BRITISH SERVICEMEN STATIONED

IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING A GURKHA BRIGADE.

MR HADDON-CAVE SAID A HONG KONG SHARE OF DEFENCE COSTS WAS JUSTIFIED BECAUSE THE PRESENCE OF THE BRITISH GARRISON CONTRIBUTED TO THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF THE COLONY.

(PICKUP AS REQUIRED).

REUTER EM/WK