021270
MDHIAN 7620
IMMEDIATE ISSUE BUT SPILL OVER ALSO INTO QUESTIONING OF THE ANNUAL AMOUNT WE ALREADY PAY UNDER THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT. THERE IS NEVER ANY SHORTAGE OF UNHELPFUL MEMBERS OF LEGCO WHO WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO USE THE ISSUE TO STIR UP TROUBLE AND THROW SOME MUD AT HMG. THE AFFAIR WOULD THEN SPILL OVER INTO GENERAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE UK. JUST WHAT WE DO NOT WANT, PARTICULARLY AT A TIME WHEN HMG HAVE BEEN PUTTING THEMSELVES OUT ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF WITH THE NATIONALITY BILL AND RIGHTLY GAINING MUCH CREDIT AS A
RESULT.
6. IN ADDITION, IT WOULD BE A NONSENSE IF ANY CHANGE TO THE ORIGINAL SKELETON PLANS FOR THE RUNDOWN, MADE FOR PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE REASONS, LED TO DEMANDS THAT HONG KONG SHOULD PAY THE TOTAL COSTS. THIS WOULD INEVITABLY INHIBIT SENSIBLE PLANNING.
7.
THE SUMS IN QUESTION ARE VERY SMALL BY MOD BUDGET STANDARDS. EVEN THOUGH I REALISE IT IS ANNOYING FOR THE MOD FINANCIAL PEOPLE TO HAVE TO FIND ANY ADDITIONAL SUMS WHICH THEY HAD NOT BARGAINED FOR, THE POLITICAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE DONE BY A ROW ON THIS ISSUE MUST FAR OUTWEIGH ANY SUCH INCONVENIENCE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, IF YOU FELT IT JUSTIFIED, THIS WOULD BE A CASE WHERE A QUIET WORD AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL COULD SAVE ENDLESS LENGTHY AND DAMAGING
AGGRAVATION AT BOTH ENDS.
WILSON
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MR MCLAREN
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MR GILLMORE
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