Powics implies, go ahead with a view as a paralys in view of the terme of the agreement, that Ko
core lachnical operation, malaso
should not think again. Unless you believe thret
the resurrection of the defence contribution
debate in this context would cause unacceptable
political repercussions, there would seem overy,
advantage in going ahead with the pericw as
The Strozet argument for such a Koris is that E207echnical operation, not toast because
Ministry of Defence and Property Series Agences the LOD and I say that, if there is no agreement
on cost escalation by June, they will have to
stop the injection inte planning of new capital
works alto athar.
•
The second half of the equation is more
difficult. As you will know, there is a current
Defence Review in which a wide range of options,
is being considered. We have of course taken care
from the very beginning to inject the relevant
Hong Kong political facts, and particularly thẹ
need for close and private consultations with
you before even preliminary conclusions are
approached. My purpose is not to pre-empt all
this, or to spark off a reaction on the general
question, which I think would be premature.
But it does at least seem possible that,
at the end of the day and when all precautions
about presentation etc. have been taken, we
could not rule out the possibility of a change
which would trigger the second review provision
of the Memorandum of Understanding (Article 3(i)
(b)), i.e. the removal of more than one major unit.
15.
CONFIDENTIAL & PERSONAL
BAD BA
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.