TNAG-0542-FCO40-637-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 186

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Defen

Пл

246

In Smith Finance

MAIN BUILDING WHITEHALL LORBON SUCH

Telephone 01-218

(Direct Dialling)

01-218 9000 (Switchboard)

Plumny Shuff

Даки

vin

i

PERMANENT UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE

SIR MICHAEL CARY KCB

PUS/75/348

Sir Douglas Henley KCB

HM Treasury

'London SW1 ·

Der Dougies

LECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No. 26

- 5 AUG 1975

205/6

1st August 1975

i.

Mr Blair, Consular Dept.

Done Mar Pauncelort, GeGoo

TISTRY OF DEFENCE CHARGES FOR SERVICES TO THE FCO

enter Noted/Mis

soted / Mer Fachym

ра

Ribe

578

Tom Brimelow and I have recently been discussing the charges which the Ministry of Defence, under existing rules, makes on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for services in connexion with intera pocurity operations, involving the use of HM Forces for the protection of British subjects and property in dependent territories overseas.

The present arrangements date from former Imperial days when such operacions were far more usual and when Colonial Governments wore often asked to pay for them. Nowadays there are few romaining Depandent Territories, and for the most part they are not rich orough to pay for internal security operations, with the rojuls

the cost is nearly always met by HMG. litherto this has been to be the responsibility of the FCO, and charges on an exuit. 6000 basis have been levied by the MOD. Usually the sums involve have been small every operation over the past few years, excopt

Tor Anguilla, has cost less than £100,000 but they have involved muck book-keeping, and at times considerable administrative effort between the Departments and with the Treasury. Consequently we and Who 500 have been considering whether the time has come to reconsider a policy which is increasingly out of date in our post-Imperial piquebion.

We have concluded that we would welcome an opportunity to come doPOL and talk to you about this. What we have in mind are the unfore71c- ablo emergencies for which it is not possible to make Estimates provision In ad rapce. In such cases (when the deployment of our Forces would

bably stem from a decision taken jointly by the Defence Secrcuy

The Foreign Secretary, if not by Ministers collectively) we think ting posts should now be allowed to lie where they all, any question

upplementary Estimates being faced at the time in the light of Bial circumstances. This will save considerable work, and in view is the sensible policy to follow in modern circumstances.

CONFIDENTIAL