TNAG-0540-FCO40-635-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 193

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5. It seems that these arrangements were rather special ones, and it is doubtful whether they have much relevance to the present circumstances of Hong Kong. On the other hand, I doubt whether deeper research would uncover anything which one could really regard as a precedent. You probably already know that India always paid for its army in full even though, in recent times, that army defended not only India but Britain too, by fighting European enemies in the Middle East. other extreme, Palestine, which tied up large numbers of British forces for both defence and internal security, did not pay a defence contribution, for the simple reason that it could not afford one.

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BH Dinwiddy

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department

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