TNAG-0544-FCO40-639-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 167

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Q12 PD WHY WAS IT NECESSARY FOR HMG TO DEMAND SUCH A DRAMATIC AND SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN HKS CONTRIBUTION TO GARRISON COSTS PD A12. PD WE HAVE NEVER DECLARED THE LEVEL OF CONTRIBUTION WHICH WE CONSIDER IT APPROPRIATE FOR HK TO PAY PD YOU WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER IT IS DRAMATIC AND SUBSTANTIAL WHEN AN AGREEMENT IS ANNOUNCED PD

Q16 PD THE SUGGESTION OF A DEMAND FOR A CLAUSE WHICH ALLOWS FOR INFLATION CMM IS A CONTROVERSIAL ON WHY SHOULD THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG PAY FOR BRITAINS HIGH RATE OF INFLATION PD

A16 PD THIS IS A PROBLEM WHICH STILL HAS TO BE SETTLED, CMM BUT WE

HAVE REACHED A FAR BETTER LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING PD THE FACT IS THAT ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF THE TOTAL COST IS AFFECTED BY UK INFLATION ALONE CMM AND THE SUMS INVOLVED ARE ALSO VERY SMALL PD Q17 PD WHY HAVE A GARRISON AT ALL PD

A17 PD WE BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CMM BRITAIN AND EVEN THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA HAVE A GREAT INTEREST IN MAINTAINING THE STATUS OF HONG KONG CMM BUT WITHOUT A GARRISON TO WHICH BRITAIN CONTRIBUTES CMM THIS STATUS COULD WELL NOT BE UPHELD

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