TNAG-0310-FCO40-346-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-of-maintaining-military-1971 — Page 90

HORITY

EN CLAIR

5

RL Live REGISTRY No. 51

-7 OCT 1971

HKIL 10/9

TOP COFF

(HKD)

FM FCO 061845Z

UNCLASSIFIED

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 748 OF 6 OCTOBER.

164

164)

MY TELNO [747]

1. FOLLOWING IS EXTRACT:

DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION.

LAST

REF.

164

NEXT

REF.

BEGINS.

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS REJECTED A BRITISH REQUEST TO SHOULDER NEARLY HALF OF THE COST OF MAINTAINING A BRITISH GARRISON

HERE, ESTIMATED AT POUNDS STERLING 140 MILLION OVER THE NEXT

5 YEARS, IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY.

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

COUNCIL.

MR HADDON-CAVE SAID BRITAIN HAD ASKED FOR POUNDS STERLING 60 MILLION FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS, CITING THE RISING COSTS OF KEEPING DRITISH TROOPS IN THIS CROWN COLONY ON CHINA'S DOORSTEP.

HE SAID THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID TRENCH, QUICKLY POINTED OUT THAT SUCH A BIG CONTRIBUTION WAS QUOTE QUITE OUT OF THE

QUESTION AND QUITE UNREASONABLE UNQUOTE.

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

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

HKD

FED

DEF D

FPAD

A & T D

CCD

NEWS D

PS

PUS

SIR L MONSON

SIR S CRAWFORD SIR S TOMLINSON HR ROSE

HR WILFORD

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION HONG KONG DEF CONTR

COPIES TO

TIR G GODLING (TREASURY)

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

54 PALL MALL

165

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