TNAG-0546-FCO40-641-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 142

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SEFONET

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MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE

WHITEHALL LONDON SWIA 2HB

Telephone 0130XXxxx 218 7112

Пожці

12 December 1975

446

Thank you for your letter of 8 December which has been circulated for information to the Prime Minister and the

other Ministers concerned.

It is certainly unfortunate that, with our negotiations concluded on a basis satisfactory to both sides, we should be unable to announce the Agreement because of your concern about the fortuitous coincidence of the possibility of import restrictions. I recognise, of course, that if the

announcement of the Defence Costs Agreement were to be

followed closely by the imposition of some form of import restriction, it would aggravate your presentational difficulties in Hong Kong. But my understanding is that, even if there

^US (GS)

were to be some restriction, it would apply only to shirts and might well be arranged by mutual agreement within existing quotas.

1st Sac

X)

(a)

In the light of the new problem of possible import restrictions I agreed reluctantly on Monday that we should not go ahead with the announcement of the Defence Costs Agrcement" "on or about 8 December" as we had agreed. On the other hand

4)

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་་་་་

HE Sir Murray Maolehose KCMG KCVO

MBE

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Asst Sec Frincipal NEO MEC(A) AT

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WE ARE AN AD ŽIVING.

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