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218049 011054 RECALLED MESSAGE 305C0441 (VZA)
VV DZA006VZDØ18BDAØ46
00 RBDWC
DE RBMVAD 007 3050342
ZNY SSSSS
0 010340Z NOV
FM TPS HONG KONG
TO MODUK
BT
SECRET
HH
DIG ZZZ RTT (ZZZ INS.BY DCC, NOT TO BE USED IN REPLY)
FOR SECRETARY OF STATE FROM MINISTER OF STATE. COPY TO APS MINISTER OF STATE.
MINISTER OF STATES TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY OF STATE
HONG KONG DEFENCE COSTS NEGOTIATIONS
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF HEADS OF AGREEMENT INITIALLED IN HONG KONG ON 1 NOV 1975 BY MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE AND GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG HER MAJESTYS GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE CONCLUDED AN AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION AND COST OF THE BRITISH FORCES STATIONED IN HONG KONG TO REPLACE THE EXISTING AGREEMENT WHICH EXPIRES ON 31 MARCH 1976 PD THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED AN AGREEMENT OF FIVE YEARS CLN IT IS THE VIEW OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT IT SHOULD LAST FOR AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS
(2)PD THE AGREEMENT IS BASED ON A GARRISON OF FOUR INFANTRY
PAGE 2 RBMVAD 007 SECRET
BATTALIONS (ONE BRITISH AND THREE GURKHA) CMM A GURKHA GENINEER FIELD SQUADRON WITH ITS TRAINING WING CMM FIVE NAVAL PATROL CRAFT AND EIGHT WESSEX HELICOPTERS PD THE COST OF THIS FORCE AT CURRENT PRICES IS ESTIMATED AT POUNDS 42 1/2 MILLION ( HONG KONG DOLLARS 450 MILLION) A YEAR PD SUBJECT TO THE ARRANGEMENTS IN PARAGRAPH 4 EFLOW CMM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AGREES TO CONTRIBUTE 50 PERCENT OF THE COST OF THIS GARRISON IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1976/77 CMM 62 1/2 PERCENT IN 1977/78 CMM AND 75 PERCNT IN EACH SUCCEEDING YEAR CMM THE BALANCE BEING MET BY THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT
PD THE DETAILED PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT WILL BE EMBODIED IN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WHICH WILL INCLUDE A FORMULA UNDER WHICH COSTS WILL BE ADJUSTED IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING PRICE AND CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES DURING THE PERIOD OF THE AGREEMENT PD THERE WILL ALSO BE A REVIEW CLAUSE COVERING CMM AMONG OTHER THINGS CMM MATERIAL CHANGES IN THE SIZE AND COSTS OF THE GARRISON PD FURTHER WORK WHICH REMAINS TO BE DONE IN THE PREPARATION OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND RELATED DOCUMENTS IS SET OUT IN THE ATTACHED ANNEX
4)PD THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUBSTANTIAL
INCREASE IN THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO BE MADE BY THE HONG KONG
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