DEFENCE REVIEW: ADVANCE COPIES
PS/MR HATTERSLEY
23/08
SIR G ARTHUR
SIT & KILLICK HR THOMSON SIR D. WATSON
MR. WILFØRD MR. MALE
HD DEFENCE DEPT
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RESIDENT CLERK
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MR W GERAGHTY DUS (CM) R7219 MOD MR HOCKADAY DUS (P
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R ADM MORTON ACDS (POL) MOD
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MR H FT SMITH
CABINET OFFICE
IMMEDIATE
EN CLAIR
FM HONG KONG 040935Z
UNCLASSIFIED
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 1289 OF 4 DECEMBER INFO
PRIORITY PEKING.
DEFENCE REVIEW.
THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST TODAY CARRIED A FRONT PAGE LEAD STOPY ABOUT THE DEFENCE AGREEMENT HEADED "HONG KONG MUST PAY DOLLARS 226 MILLION MORE FOR DEFENCE'. THE REPORT DATELINED LONDON QUOTED DEFENCE SECRETARY AS STATING IN PARLIAMENT THAT HONG KONG WOULD BE ASKED TO INCREASE ITS
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION TO 28 MILLION STERLING."
2. GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES HAVE ISSUED DENIAL QUOTING UPI REPORT IN FULL AND CONTINUING AS FOLLOWS:
QUOTE THIS MORNING'S NEWSPAPER REPORT, ATTRIBUTED TO MR MASON, THAT BRITAIN IS TO ASK THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE THE £8 MILLION IT CONTRIBUTES TO ANNUAL COST OF THE GARRISON HERE TO £28 MILLION IS QUITE WRONG AND WOULD SEEM TO RESULT FROM A MISREADING OF THE AGENCY COPY.
AS A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT LAST NIGHT, THE PRESENT AGREEMENT RUMS UNTIL 31 MARCH 1976. CONSULTATIONS WITH BRITAIN ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS DEFENCE COST WILL BE TAKING PLACE DURING NEXT YEAR.
IT IS PREMATURE THEREFORE TO TALK EITHER OF SPECIFIC PERCENTAGES OR OF THE TOTAL COST TO BE DIVIDED AT THIS STAGE UNQUOTE. MACLEHOSE
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