TNAG-0480-FCO40-545-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 8

LOOSE MINUTE

Head of Fl(Air)/1803

DS11 (Mr Hawtin)

Copy to:

D of DP(C)

Head of DS6

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED

PESTEN

7701157.784

DICK FOLA

Ran

FCO (Head of Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department

PO 1775B - Hong Kong

лот

что

дел

une pleade

(ind faker)

Mr Stuart)

You asked for comments on the draft reply, supplementaries and background notes for the above PQ.

2.

My only concern about the proposed answer and the background note is that they could give the impression that HMG is wholly responsible for the cost of both the external defence and the internal security of the Colony. Thus I wonder whether the words "in support of our commitments" could not be excluded from the answer. Also, I would like to see added an additional sentence to paragraph 2 of the back- ground note to read as follows:-

3.

"The cost of maintaining internal security is normally expected to be borne by a Colonial Government which

is also expected to contribute towards external

defence costs if it could afford to do so".

The doctrine for the financial arrangements for the role of the colonial territories in peace and war comes from an Overseas Defence Committee document of 1960 which states that:-

"a.

Colonial Governments should be expected to bear the cost of maintaining internal security and that, should assistance from United Kingdom funds be necessary in individual cases, appropriate provision should be made in the Colonial Services Vote.

b.

If it is necessary in the interests of Commonwealth Defence generally to maintain Colonial forces beyond the scale required for internal security the additional cost involved would normally have to be met from United Kingdom Defence Votes: this should not preclude those Colonial Governments which are able to meet their own internal security costs from being asked, or offering, to make contri- butions towards the cost of Commonwealth Defence generally.

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CONFIDENTIAL

PA

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