TNAG-0536-FCO40-631-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 55

SECRET

UK EYES A

VISIT TO HONG KONG 6 10 JANU RY.

KEPORT OF UK TEAM

THE

VISIT

B

12

11

4. The main features of the discussions

are recoded in the

following paragraphs J

At their meeting in MOD on 18 December HE the Governor

which must be resolved

arm

of Hong Kong and DUS(P) agreed that an official team represent-

ing the MOD, HM Treasury and the FCO should visit Hong Kong

early in January 1975 with the main objects first of explaining

to the Hong Kong Government in actail the estimated costs of

a "reduced" long mong garrison (including 53 Army teeth/units)

and secondly of identifying the issues requiring resolation

before negotiation of a successor to the current ilong Kong

Defence Contribution agreement could be completed (options

were to be identfied where possible). The discussions were

envisaged as a development of talks already held between UK

and Hong Kong officials in London on 23 October 1974.

can

23

2. The visit to Hong Kong took place on 6 10 January

1975. The composition of the UK team is shown at Annex A.

The objectives which the UK team set themselves are tabulated

at Annex B. The team was not authorised to negotiate. The

discussions comprised a series of formal meetings with oficials

of the Hong Kong Colonial Secretariat and the Police, at which

the chair was taken initially by the Colonial Secretary and

subsequently by the Secretary for Security, and, in addition,

informal meetings with HE the Governor, CBF and the Financial

The formal discussious Secretary. Throughout/the team were supported by the staff of

CBF Hong Kong.

3. An agreed, but not full, record of the formal meetings

has been prepared by the Hong Kong Government (annex C, not

yet available).

THE

DISCUSSIONS

A. Formal discussions with the Colonial Secretariat.

CAPS

SECRET

-1-

UK EYES A