TNAG-0480-FCO40-545-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 119

ADVANCE COPY

DEFENCE REVIEW :

ADVANCE COPIES

FS

PS/MR HATTERSLEY PS/PUS

SIR G ARTHUR

SIR J KILLICK

MR THOMSON

Sind Wals.

wa

Watson

HD DEFENCE DEPT

HD WOD

K

Groos A.d. It kiØD

CYPHER/CAT A

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(2)

мер

PS/ Sec of State Mas

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sec (cos) mos

(220)

го

Mrls Geraghty DUS (CM) MED.

MR HOCKADAY DUS (P) MOD

R.ADM. MORTON ACDS (FOL) MOD

HD DS 11 MOD

HD DS 12

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HD DS 22

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MR H FT SMITH

CABINET OFFICE

FM HONG KONG 290940Z

LAST

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DEDIP

REF.

(14) 221

SECRET

1797

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 1187 OF 29 NOVEMBER.

YOUR TELEGRAM 1033 OF 25TH NOVEMBER.

DEFENCE REVIEW.

IN THE EVENT I DECIDED NOT TO TELL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING ON 26TH NOVEMBER BUT WILL DO SO ON THE 3RD DECEMBER. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE DISCRETION GIVEN ME IN USING THE MATERIAL INCLUDED IN PARAGRAPHS 3 TO 5 OF YOUR TELEGRAM.

2. I AGREE WITH THE PROPOSAL IN PARAGRAPH 6 FOR HANDLING THE STATEMENT IN PUBLIC. WE WOULD HOWEVER LIKE TO ADD HERE, UNATTRIBUTABLY OF COURSE...QUOTE YOU MAY BE SURE THAT IN ANY NEGOTIATIONS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL BE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO KEEP THE FIGURE WITHIN LIMITS WHICH CAN BE AFFORDED BEARING IN MIND THE EXPENDITURE POSTULATED IN OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMMES, UNQUOTE.

MACLEHOSE