TNAG-0544-FCO40-639-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 105

SECRET UK EYES A

rigorous planning criteria to any redevelopment including the provision of public amenities of all sorts. (There are already indications that at least part of the Victoria Barracks site may be turned into a much needed park.)

5.

Finally, it should be remembered that without some concession to local opinion in this matter, it would have been impossible to secure a satisfactory agreement, or indeed any agreement at all, short of imposing a solution and risking a major constitutional crisis. As in all negotiations, a measure of compromise was required on both sides and our agreement to release the land in question should go some way towards making the agreement palatable to Hong Kong opinion, which is still very much exercised over what they regard as our unreasonable demands. On the other hand, we have resisted the suggestion from the Unofficials that payment of progressively increasing financial contributions should be directly linked with the release of the land. This would impose an impossibly tight schedule on all concerned; or alternatively would require an unacceptable delay in the raising of Hong Kong's contribution to the financial costs of the garrison.

5 November 1975

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PL O'Keeffe

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.

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Sir D Watson

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Male

Mr Wilberforce, Defence Dept.

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SECRET UK EYES A

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