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4. I AM SURE THAT YOU WILL ALREADY HAVE CONSIDERED ONE POSSIBLE WAY OUT OF THIS HOLE. THAT WOULD BE TO MAKE A PROPORTION OF HONG KONG'S GULF DONATION PAYABLE IN THE FORM OF A ONE OFF CONTRIBUTION TO THE COSTS OF MAINTAINING THE BRITISH GARRISON IN HONG KONG. THE SUM COULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF THE AMOUNT IN DISPUTE WITH THE MOD OVER THE PATROL BOATS.
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THERE WOULD CLEARLY BE MAJOR POLITICAL DISADVANTAGES IN THIS APPROACH. IN PARTICULAR, IT WOULD MEAN BRINGING THE OLD DCA RESENTMENTS TO THE SURFACE. BUT THIS COULD WELL HAPPEN IN ANY CASE BEFORE LONG, IN EVEN LESS PROPITIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. IT WOULD ALSO MEAN SOME DELAY BEFORE THE QUESTION OF A HONG KONG GULF CONTRIBUTION COULD BE RESOLVED, SINCE FURTHER WORK WOULD BE NEEDED TO PREPARE THE GROUND. BUT I AM SURE THAT SOME DELAY WOULD BE MANAGEABLE AT THIS END.
I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS. IF YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS ANY MILEAGE IN THE IDEA, WE WOULD NEED TO CONSULT MINISTERS. HURD
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