TNAG-0479-FCO40-544-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 91

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Mr Thomson

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spoken

Sir D Watson

Mr Stuart, HKIOD Mr McLaren, WOD

DEFENCE REVIEW: HONG KONG

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1. I attach a self explanatory draft letter to Mr Howard Smith in response to his request yesterday for a suggested line on Hong Kong in any Parliamentary statements this month on the Defence Review. It has been agreed with Mr Stuart and Sir D Watson. We recognise that there might be Ministerial pressure for something to be said, in any "definitive" statement of our Defence Review intentions, about our intention to reduce the level of the forces slightly and to seek a larger contribution from the Hong Kong Government. But we think this would be unwise, and that for the moment at any rate we should not indicate any willingness in Whitehall to consider it or press it on the Governor.

2. The answer which Miss Lestor has been advised to make to today's PQ from Mr Royle, who has asked for an assurance that there is no intention to change or reduce the British political or military commitment to Hong Kong is that:-

"We have no intention of abandoning or modifying our commitment to the administration and security of Hong Kong. On the question of defence, the present agreement on Hong Kong's contribution to the cost of the garrison expires in March 1976. The successor agreement will of course be the subject of consultation with the Hong Kong Government at the appropriate time."

However, the exact wording of the first sentence is still being discussed with Miss Lestor and the Private Office.

6 November 1974

Teddy Jacka

J E Jackson Defence Department

SECRET