TNAG-0544-FCO40-639-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 80

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sufficiently safeguarded with an agreement of indefinite duration with the option of amendment after a given period, say seven years. An agreement on these lines would also be more acceptable to Hong Kong opinion as evidence of our continued commitment to Hong Kong on which the Minister of State for Defence laid stress in the course of his meetings with Unofficials and at his press conference before leaving Hong Kong.

5.

I submit a draft minute to the Prime Minister with which FED and Defence Department concur.

13 November 1975

CC

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Sykes

I aquee

Matte

PL O'Keeffe

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.

that indefinite duration with an

option to

amand

ofcause not

makes good sense.

We would

want to commit ausdes

split if there to indefinitely if realetić chance

Ста

75:25

thee

a

move in

the

of persuading Hong Kong &

Кая

near future.

to pay

is no

such chance.

I judge there

But aicumstances meçir

тыя

in which event

we could

Exercise

the

change i

option.

l

a que

In

13/11

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Рамя

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