CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFT
4/€
A/16/ABROAD/5712
DRAFT LETTER FROM MR GAMMON TO TREASURY (MR BRACK)
1. May I seek your advice on a matter which we have been
discussing with FCO since 1967. As you will recall the Service
Departments provided assistance to the Hong Kong Government in
the internal security situation that developed in the Colony in
1967/68. The assistance consisted of a variety of measures
reinforcements, the loan of specialist troops, additional
transport, stores, works services and so on, and I am pleased
to say that after prolonged discussions between ourselves and
the FCO, and between our Command Secretary in Hong Kong and
local officials, all these matters have been satisfactorily
concluded and appropriate payment made to Defence Votes, with
two exceptions.
2.
a.
fence
The exceptions, however, are not inconsiderable. They are:
the cost of materials (including their movement to
Hong Kong from Singapore) for the erection of a "snake"
£173,340. In August 1967 the Governor reported
that he had authorised the building of a "substantial
wire obstacle" along the frontier, south of the border
line. Its object was to stop land incursions of all
kinds but it was an essential feature of measures to
control an influx of refugees. It is only fair to tell
you that in first reporting this measure the Governor
expressed the view that it was "a defensive measure
designed to meet an external threat and that therefore
the charge should be one which this [i.e. the Hong Kong]
Government should not have to meet". However the MOD
CONFIDENTIAL
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