TNAG-0543-FCO40-638-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 208

CODE 18-77

で

SECRET UK DYES

SECRET

Reference

D/DS6/46/66/1

CFR

RECEIVED IN

REGISTY 1, 51 14 OCT 1975

Lek 10)

Copy to: PS/Minister of State

DUS(P)

ACDS (Pol)

AUS (NS)

AUS (GS)

AUS (AS)

DPR(A)

MO 2

DN Plans

Air Plans 2

Head of F1(Air)

D31 (Mr Jones)

DDAQ

FCO HKIOD

A

th. The Rodgers vicit

(copica to News

Dept. For in10) / 15/6

Mr. Jayasin

Treasury - Mr Fitcherv

PSA - Mr Aggleton

Du

HONG KONG DEFENCE COSTS NEGOTIATIONS

1.

The following press release has been agreed with the Governor,

Hong Kong:

"The Minister of State for Defence, Mr Rodgers, will be arriving in Hong Kong on 27 October for a short visit in the course of which he will have discussions with the Hong Kong Government on the terms of a new defence costs agreement to succeed that which expires at the end of March 1976".

This will be released at 6pm Hong Kong time, 9am London time, Wednesday 15 October. I should be grateful if you could arrange for parallel release here.

2. We are anxious to avoid press speculation which could have the effect of creating an atmosphere of crisis or expectations of an early announcement about the new agreement. Any press enquiries should therefore be answered on the following lines:

"The visit will afford an opportunity for the Minister to see something of the forces stationed in Hong Kong as well as the occasion for talks about the future cost sharing arrangements. These talks are a part of the continuing discussions with the Hong Kong Government about our Defence Review intention to seek a greater financial contribution in the new agreement; but the present cost sharing arrangements still have some months to run. We cannot comment on the future level of forces, or their financing, while these discussions are in progress and it is too early to say when they

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