TNAG-0348-FCO40-384-Costs-of-extra-services-provided-by-armed-forces-of-UK-in-Ho-1972 — Page 43

CONFIDENTIAL

obtained from the Hong Kong Government confidential

report on the 1967 disturoances of which the text

of Chapter 8 is annexed. This explains well the

sort of contingencies against which the fence was

constructed without actually mentioning the fence.

J

7. In the light of the above circumstances, the

Foreign and Commonwealth Office do not share the

view expressed by the former Commonwealth Office that

the fence was simply a measure to control illegal

immigration. They share the Hong Kong Government's

view that it was, in fact, a measure to defend the

security of the Colony against an external threat,

armed at least, if not actually military, as the

annex shows, and that as such its cost should not be

a charge on the Hong Kong Government. In the view

of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Hong Kong

Government have, in fact, already met any share of this

obligation which might reasonably be attributed to

them in that they have met the cost (amounting to

approximately £69,000) of labour engaged in the

erection of the fence and of compensation paid to the

owners of the land taken over for the construction

of the fence.

8. BORDER WORKS

At an early stage during the 1967 disturbances, two

Gurkha battalions were deployed on the frontier,

where they dug in. It proved necessary for some work

to be done to protect these troops and the Army put under utaration thigulace sin

the necessary works in hand By October/November

1967, it had become evident that there was a

continuing need for the deployment of troops on the

frontier and basic requirements such as latrines, ablutions, cookhouses, observation posts, bunkers,

bumper

/etc

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