TNAG-0537-FCO40-632-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 11

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CONFIDENTIAL

Progress of Consultations

5. The Hong Kong Government have been given details of the

proposed reductions and the resultant costs.

Discussions continue

of the relative contributions by UK and Hong Kong;

there is still

a large gap between the contribution which UK would like Hong Kong

to make and the amount which Hong Kong claims to be able to

afford. The Governor would prefer to examine a number of options

in the coming weeks and to present final proposals in May.

Mr Hooley

6. My Hooley's Question harks back to his intervention in the

Defence Debate Hansard Vol 883 Col 1232-27 and explores the

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same ground as his PQ of January 8th Hansard Vol 884 Col 1697.

His intention may be to

Since Mr Hooley is an opponent of military presence in Hong

designed Kong, it is probably to lead in to the general question of

justifying our continuing presence.

argue that, since there is no air defence against attack, our

troops cannot be capable of meeting a serious threat and ought

therefore to be replaced by some form of gendarmerie.

CONFIDENTIAL