SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1061
OF 101037Z APRIL 91
SECRET
074603 MDLIAN 2593
Ра
HKBOK3
PERSONAL FOR COX, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
HONG KONG PATROL CRAFT
1. ON 9 APRIL, CBF BRIEFED THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON THE ROLE OF THE PATROL CRAFT AND GAVE HIS ASSESSMENT THAT THERE WAS A MILITARY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED FOR THEM TO BE RETAINED IN HONG KONG UNTIL 1997. I ENDORSED THIS AND REMINDED THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES THAT WE WOULD FACE, PARTICULARLY IN AN ELECTION YEAR, IN ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVAL FOR THE COSTS OF THE PATROL CRAFT TO
BE DIVIDED IN ANY DIFFERENT RATIO FROM THAT AGREED UNDER THE DCA.
2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE AGREED TO RAISE THE MATTER INFORMALLY WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE. HOWEVER, HE THOUGHT IT UNLIKELY THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO OBTAIN MR KING'S AGREEMENT TO THE PATROL CRAFT REMAINING AFTER 1992 UNLESS THE HKG WAS ABLE TO MAKE SOME KIND OF ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE MOD'S
COSTS ARISING FROM THE HONG KONG GARRISON. THIS NEED NOT NECESSARILY BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PATROL CRAFT. IT MIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, BE RELATED TO ANY FUNCTIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE GARRISON IN AID OF THE CIVIL POWER THAT WENT BEYOND THE DUTIES
NORMALLY EXPECTED OF THEM.
3. I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER SUCH A PROPOSAL IS FEASIBLE. BUT, IN CASE THIS IS THE OUTCOME OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH MR KING, I AM ASKING OUR EXPERTS HERE FOR ADVICE ON WHETHER THERE IS ANY CASE THAT WE CAN MAKE FOR SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT THAT EITHER WOULD NOT NEED TO BE PUT TO FINANCE COMMITTEE OR COULD BE PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT MIGHT COMMAND MAJORITY APPROVAL IN
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
4. I PROPOSE TO TAKE NO/NO FURTHER ACTION WITH THE MOD UNTIL I
GET A READ-OUT OF THE MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO SECRETARIES OF STATE. AGREED?
WILSON
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