TNAG-0617-FCO40-765-Strength-and-cost-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 141

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062/2 НКК 400/1

BH Cousins Esq

SECRET

Head of Defence Secretariat 6

Ministry of Defence

Main Building

Whitehal1

LONDON

10

20

HONG KONG: DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT

¿poke to hangm

Will

hongmire

IFRA who

copy dead SEAR'S plc to HKTED

fle within the next few days

By Enter (all) and resubmit

26 May 1977

du. David

TJ 30%

we hurd bear Xin

له

wind wi emrollatin with FRAD. Arafiver step. I thunk we ogurt know What happened at Dope And you find or please! (Do Dr6 deal with Buvusi

as well as H.k.? Dimi).

1. Thank you for your letter D/DS6/46/66/1 of 18 May. You will since have seen a copy of Hong Kong telegram no. 500 of 17 May which sets out the Governor's first views on the necessity of a reinforcement potential from Brunei. I now enclose a copy of the Governor's letter of 18 May to Donald Kurray which gives his more considered views, I also enclose a copy of the Talking Points we prepared for our own Secretary of State for use at the DOPC meeting on 24 kay.

2. It seems that the question raised in your letter of whether the Hong Kong Government should be brought into the "policy-making process" over the presence of the Gurkhas in Brunei has become academic. Clearly, the Hong Kong Government are now involved, For the record, however, I should say that I consider it right that the Hong Kong Government have had an opportunity to express their views at this stage. It would have been unfortunate if we had, sooner or later - but especially later presented Hong Kong with a decision which, judging by the arguments advanced by the Governor, they would have greeted with dismay. I think that we should continue to keep the Governor informed.

3* I would meanwhile be grateful for your views on the arguments which the Governor has put forward in his letter. At first sight I find them persuasive and Lord Goronyy-Roberts, who has see the Governor's letter has commente "The Hong Kong case has, of course, been very strong, even if sui generis". But I recognize that what the Governor says depends very much on military considerations which you are best placed to assess.

Goldsmith (SEAD)

Filberforce (Defence Repti

JAB Stewart