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This episode would form part of the background if ever I had to go to Finance Committee with a proposal that Hong Kong should pay more than its normal 65% of the costs for keeping the patrol craft here. It is one of the reasons why I believe it would be very foolish ever to float such a proposal. The damage to HMG's reputation would be great. So too would the bitterness here.
I find this a depressing episode. We went out of our way to do what was asked of us over the Gulf. Despite assurances to the contrary, it seems to have had no helpful impact on other, related, issues. We still face a totally intransigent MOD on a matter which, while of some importance to us, should be equally important for HMG.
e/15
Is it not possible for the -15 million which we contributed to Gulf expenses, which I understand went to the Treasury rather than to the MOD, to be transferred to the MOD (to cover Gulf expenditure of course) so that their anticipated income is boosted and we no longer need to continue this long running argument about who should pay for the patrol craft? This would seem to be the common sense solution.
Andrew Burns Esq AUSS
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
مدن
-d
Governor
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