TNAG-0546-FCO40-641-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 97

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3. Hong Kong are still pressing for the minor amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding and the agreed Press Statement set out in my minute to you of 10th December (not to all). In the case of the MOU they wish to say in the preamble that we "will" rather than "can" reinforce, should circumstances so require; and to insert in paragraph 3 a reference to the starting date of the Agreement. Both these seem to me acceptable. In the case of the Press Statement they want a similar change in the reference to reinforcement: I at first objected to this since there were no qualifying words as in the MOU;

but the proposal now is to repeat the phrase 'should circumstances so require" and with this qualification I believe the change is acceptable. Their other changes relate to the description of the Hong Kong contribution and are, I believe, acceptable. They have now dropped the request to delete the reference to the cost of reprovisioning being borne by Hong Kong, which I had said must be retained. Assuming that the Governor agrees to an announcement on 19th December I should be grateful if you would confirm that these changes are acceptable to the Mi.ister of State.

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4. I will submit separately a proposed written Answer to a PQ for 19th December 1975.

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December 1975

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Portach

R. J. ANDREW AUS(GS)

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