Mr Dinwiddy, HKIOD
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131
HONG KONG: 117 Signals Unit
1.
We spoke. I had a word with Mr Robson but could not get much more out of him than you did. He said he thought the final MOD position would be that they could make the necessary RAF personnel available until April 1976 but that this would have to be at the expense of the Hong Kong Government. He seemed disposed to justify this position by arguing that the retention of the radar at Tai Mo Shan was not strictly necessary in view of the radar capability of the equipment at Kai Tak (I gathered it would extend the range by only about 50 miles). As you warned me, he did not want us to anticipate the final MOD view in any way, but agreed that we could of course send a purely deadpan reply to Hong Kong telegram No 305 if we wished.
2.
I pointed out that the matter had been outstanding now for a couple of months and urged him to let us have MOD's views by the end of this month I said, speaking purely personally, that it might be a pity to take too firm a view about where the costs should lie, nt any rate at this stage; thin might be a noint which might be better kopt for discussion about future sharing of del'ence conta In Hong Kong generally (I had in mind that the question of transitional costs in 1975/76 still, as I understand it, needs to be finalised).
3. I think it would be courteous to send Mr Davies an interim reply, and I attach a draft telegram which, if you agree, you might like to send off.
Teddy
J E Jacks on
Jauka
Defence Department
4 April 1975
Avis Buchsan
I kno
Leun
+ despatched your elegram.
f
после
SECRET
Y
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