TNAG-0542-FCO40-637-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 136

GPS 90

PRIORITY

CYPHER/:CAT

SECRET

271

FM F C 0 051650Z

Su (27)

(HKK 10/1)

LABT

REF.

NEXT

SECRET

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TEUNC 685 OF 5 SEPTEMBER. DEFENCE COSTS (NAVY): YOUR TELNO 807.

REF.

275

1. FOLLOWING ARE MOD'S REPLIES TO YOUR TWO POINTS:

(1) WE CONFIRM THAT EVEN IF MERMAID'S REFIT WERE UNDERTAKEN IN HONG KONG, ON PRESENT PLANS THE COLONY WOULD EFFECTIVELY BE WITHOUT

A GUARDSHIP DURING THE REFIT.

(11) WE CANNOT GIVE A FIRM ESTIMATE OF THE EXTRA EXPENSE UNTIL

THE MATERIAL STATE OF MERMAID IS KNOWN, AND AN ASSESSMENT MADE

OF THE STANDARD OF REFITTING WORK IN HONG KONG DOCKYARD. BUT THE ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE WOULD BE ABOUT PDS STG 200,000.

CALLAGHAN

FILES

HD OF HKIOD

HD OF DEF DEPT

SIR D WATSON

MR MALE

MR THOMSON

COPIES TO:

MR WARD, DS6, MOD

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