RECEN
REGIST:
12 MAY 1972
MICK 10/9
Our referenAUS(CF)/7918 Your reference:
From Mr J H Taylor, AUS(CF)
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Main Building, Whitehall, LONDON S.W.1
Telephone: WHItehall 7022, ext. 6763 G
CONFIDENTIAL
K M Wilford Esq CMG
CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Downing Street
Min Kell
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Dear Wilford.
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Ms.
As I have recently taken up the post of AUS (CF), following Leonard Curzon's retirement, Arthur Thorp has passed me your letter of 18 April about the snake fence in Hong Kong and associated problems.
2.
I have now had a chance to read the previous correspondence on this subject, together with the extract from the Hong Kong Government's report which you kindly attached to your letter, but I do not feel able to change the view which the Ministry of Defence has consistently taken on the question of financial responsibility for the border works undertaken in 1967.
3. We are content with the additions you propose to the draft MOD letter to the Treasury, subject to the amendments and additions attached. The new paragraph 8 summarises the MOD position and sets out the reasons why we are unable to accept your view that the cost of the fence should be borne by Defence Votes. We do not accept your suggestion that the matter be treated as a dispute between the Ministry of Defence and the Hong Kong Government. We feel that it is with you, as the Commonwealth Office's successor, bearing in mind that the Commonwealth Office gave us the assurance of 4 October 1967 at a senior level.
Yours Sincerely,
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