104,
LOOSE MINUTE
D/DS11/1/1/3/2
DS1 (Mr Jones) DS5 (Mr Howe) DS6 (Mr Ward) DS8 (Mr Dawson)
DS12(Mr Heyhoe)
DS20(Mr Harding)
F1(Air)(Mr Morgan)
CC HKIOD✓
RECEIVER IN REGISTMI Ma. 51
GRGD.
for rapid
WIAD
10 MAR 1975
LAD.
S clearance pre.
ры
R&B Commer
(CORMACK)
6/3
FCO(Defence Dept) (Mr Cormack)
FCO(SWPD) (Mr Thomson)
FCO(EAD) (Mr Maclean)
Copy to DSEZ
DEFENCE WHITE PAPER
1.
2 mimbed to Mr Commmeck.
PA
BD
7/3
We have been asked to provide defensive briefing for the press conference on the Defence White Paper as indicated below.
(1) 2.
A.
(2) 2.
A.
(3)(a) 2
A.
Why is the presence of British Forces necessary in Hong Kong, Gibraltar, the Falkland Islanās and Belize?
We are responsible for the external defence and internal security of these dependencies and the forces we maintain in them are considered necessary to meet our obligations and help preserve their territorial integrity.
Have you made any changes in your proposals as a result of the careful considerations of the
points made by our non-NATO allies?
In general our non-NATO allies have shown
understanding of the reasoning behind our proposals, and though in some cases Hong Kong and Brunei Consultations are still in progress and it is. too early to predict the outcome. In other areas, however, we have been able to take account of the views of interested parties in planning the details of our withdrawals and without making major changes in our original proposals. In
How much does the Hong Kong Government contribute now and how much do you expect them to contribute in future?
Under the present cost-sharing agreement, which expires in 1976, Hong Kong currently meets about 25% of the cost. Consultations about the future level of their contribution are still in progress and I cannot prejudge the outcome.
!
(106) (10
1
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