TNAG-0545-FCO40-640-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 147

Enti

MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE

WHITEHALL LONDON SW1A 2HB

Telephone 01-930722 218-7112

X 383

AUS

CS6

Asst Sec Principal GSO A)

нада

GSC

G

H 20

C

AT

OST:

ti

Asst Sec Principa

H10

HEDIA) AT Copy

D/MIN/WR/8/7

$ 3SECRET

Maman

LACT

NEXT

4

Į

5/2535/15

November 1975

382

I am sorry that time (and our afternoon at the races) prevented my giving you a reply to your letter of November, which you handed to me that morning.

I appreciate what you say about the conduct of the negotiations. For my part, I greatly valued the frankness of our exchanges, even when the going was hard. I like to believe that in all the circumstances the Heads of Agreement represents a satisfactory settlement in our mutual interest. I, too, hope that we shall be able to make our conclusions known on the time table we have agreed, and as a result of the further discussions which will take place.

As for the period of the Agreement, this is obviously something I must discuss here, as I had no authority to go beyond five years. At the same time, I personally see an RS.......... advantage in seeking an agreement of at least seven years

and I will make my views known.

File No.

I note what you say about the connection between the increased financial contributions by the Hong Kong Government and the release of land at Kai Tak and Victoria Barracks. You made it clear in your minute to me of 30 October that the

HE Sir Murray MacLehose KCMG KCVO MBE

/Unofficials'