TNAG-0479-FCO40-544-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 37

Mr Stuart, HKIOD

Maante

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SECRET

A 12/1

X

DEFENCE REVIEW: HONG KONG

1.

The draft letter which we agreed last week I should send to Mr Howard Smith about possible references to Hong Kong in any Parliamentary statement this month did not in the end issue. Mr Thomson mentioned its content to Mr Howard-Smith, who recognised the force of it but thought that if it were circulated at that particular stage it might arouse reactions e.g. from the Treasury, which might prejudice our interests. In the end I therefore simply sent him for his own information a copy of the draft in its final form (copy attached).

2. Things have now moved further ahead. It is expected now that there will be a Parliamentary statement on 3 December. It is not yet clear what it will contain but preliminary indications suggest that it will deal with non-NATO commitments in pretty general terms. With any luck we should therefore be able to stick to the line suggested in the draft letter. But I shall be circulating a separate minute about this.

11 November 1974

Teddy Jack

JE Jacks on

Defence Department

SECRET