TNAG-0475-FCO40-540-Contributions-of-Hong-Kong-for-costs-on-maintaining-military-1974 — Page 8

PS/Secretary of State

RECEIVED

REGISTRY N 52

- 5 JUL 1974

93

Copies to:

AUS(D Staff)

Head of DS6

Head of Fl(Air)

нско

FCO: Mr Dinwiddy, Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Dept.

PQ 1062B: HONG KONG

I understand that this Question does not now appear on the Order Paper and that it appears to have been withdrawn. You are checking this.

2. You should know however that AUS(D Staff), who has seen Head of DS6's minute of 28 June, prefers the alternative answer attached. Since no indication has yet been given that Hong Kong's interests will be affected by the Defence Review (which is a sensitive point politically), he does not think that the Secretary of State should suggest at this stage that there will be a need for consultation with the Hong Kong Government. The alternative answer is full and accurate; and does not raise this difficulty. Head of DS6 has been consulted and agrees.

3.

The answer to the third supplementary will require some change. The new formulation, with which Head of DS6 is content is:

'Should the Defence Review affect the interests of Hong Kong there will of course be discussion with the Hong Kong Government. The level of financial contribution after 1976 must in any case be the subject of negotiation at some future stage.'

1 Jul 74

This revised

reply

was not

cleared with HKVOTD but the event the quation sportarten was

withdrain

профе

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2

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