TNAG-0544-FCO40-639-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 187

340

IMMEDIATE

GRS 100

CYPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 301115Z

SECRET

SECRET.

300CT1975

Picked

REF.

NEXT.

(339) (341)

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NO 1289 OF 30 OCTOBER.

MY TELEGRAM NO 1086: DEFENCE COSTS.

***

AFTER A LONG DISCUSSION WITH UNOFFICIALS THIS AFTERNOON I HAVE PUT TO MR RODGERS THE OUTCOME IN THE MINUTE IN MY IMMEDIATELY

FOLLOWING TELEGRAM. AS YOU SEE UNOFFICIALS HAVE ACCEPTED MY RECOMMENDATION, SUBJECT TO THE ADDITION OF A VERY STIFF GLOSS ON PARA 8(B) OF MY TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE.

2. WITH REFERENCE TO PARA 1 (A) AND (B) OF MIFT IT IS

PROPOSED TO REPROVISION R AF KAI TAK AT SEKONG AND VICTORIA

BARRACKS IN TAMAR. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE WORKING PARTY

SHOULD NOT PRECULDE RETENTION OF PARTS OF THESE PIECES OF LAND IF OTHERWISE COMPATIBLE WITH UNOFFICIALS' OBJECTIVES (E.G. FLAGSTAFF HOUSE).

3. I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THIS PROPOSAL WILL PROVE EITHER

TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE ON THE GROUND, OR ACCEPTABLE TO H.M.G.,

BUT MEANWHILE I MUST STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE POINT IN

PARA 6 OF MY MINUTE. PREMATURE ANNOUNCEMENT, EVEN OF AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE SUBJECT TO FURTHER DISCUSSION OF TECHNICAL DETAILS, MIGHT TOUCH OFF AN UPROAR HERE ALONG THE LINES THAT THE HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT HAD GIVEN WAY FAR TOO QUICKLY. THIS COULD CAUSE

UNOFFICIALS TO RENEGE.

MIFT.

MACLEHOUSE

FILES

HKLOD (3)

SIR D WATSON

DEFENCE D

MR THOMSON

SWPD

MR MALE

PS

PS/LUKD GORONWY-ROBERTS

SECRET

COPIES TO

MR WARD DS 6 MOD

MR HANSFORD TREASURY MR BRYERS CABINET OFFICE MR AGGLETON

PSA/DOE