fair fomit
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025001
MDHIAN 1677
LOBBY.
(D) UNLIKE AT WESTMINSTER WE HAVE NO GOVERNMENT PARTY AND NO DEFENCE
WE HAVE THREE OFFICIAL VOTES AND WE WILL LOSE THEM IN 1995. THE RISK IS WE HAD GONE TO LEGCO FOR ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS THIS YEAR WAS NOT SIMPLY THAT THE REQUEST WOULD HAVE BEEN REJECTED. RATHER IT WAS THAT THE ENTIRE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED INTO QUESTION.
7.
MY CONCLUSION FROM THIS EPISODE IS THAT THE DEFENCE COSTS BUDGET FOR 1993/94 MUST NOT ONLY COVER ANY JUSTIFIED OVERSPENDING IN 1992/93, BUT WITH THAT INCLUDED MUST IF AT ALL POSSIBLE DECLINE IN REAL TERMS. IN EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR THERE MUST ALSO BE A REAL DECLINE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MEASURES WHICH I SUGGEST NEED TO BE EXAMINED IMMEDIATELY BY MOD, IF NECESSARY BEFORE THE REVIEW TAKES PLACE:
(A) AT PRESENT WE ARE EXCLUDED ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM INVOLVEMENT IN THE DRAWING UP OF HONG KONG'S DEFENCE ESTIMATES. WE ARE SIMPLY PRESENTED WITH THE BILL AND ASKED TO PAY 65 PERCENT. IT IS NOT TOO MUCH TO SAY THAT ALTHOUGH WE PAY TWO- THIRDS OF THE PIPER'S SALARY, WE HARDLY HAVE A SIGHT OF HIS SCORE. THIS MUST CHANGE. WE ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH HQBF ON THIS AND SIR CHRISTOPHER FRANCE ACCEPTED, WHEN I MET HIM ON 23 FEBRUARY, THAT THE MOD NEEDED TO PROVIDE US WITH FAR MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE SCALE OF THE GARRISON'S ACTIVITIES AND DETAILS OF ITS FUNDING. WE WILL BE PUTTING SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS TO MOD FOR MORE REGULAR CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE MOD AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO FOLLOW UP SIR CHRISTOPHER FRANCE'S PROPOSAL FOR IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS.
(B) THE NEED FOR THIS IS HIGHLIGHTED BY TWO EXAMPLES. LAST YEAR THERE WERE 700 OFFICIAL MOD VISITS TO HONG KONG. THIS COMPARES WITH ABOUT 100 FROM ALL OTHER BRITISH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS PUT TOGETHER. WE HAVE ALSO JUST FOUND OUT THAT HQBF HAVE ORDERED 168 NEW CARS FOR THE GARRISON. WE HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BOTH THESE POINTS BEFORE WE PAY THE 4TH QUARTER INVOICE. WE IMAGINE THAT THE MOD (AND MAYBE THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE) WILL ALSO WANT SATISFACTORY ANSWERS.
(C) A HARD LOOK NEEDS TO BE TAKEN AT THE SUPPORT COSTS OF THE GARRISON WHICH AMOUNT TO 50 PERCENT. SIR CHRISTOPHER FRANCE ARGUED THAT CUTS IN SUPPORT FACILITIES ALWAYS TAKE TIME TO REGISTER. BUT ONE OBVIOUS POSSIBILITY, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN MAJOR SAVINGS, WOULD BE FOR THE MILITARY HERE TO MOVE TO UNACCOMPANIED TERMS. THIS IS FORESEEN I BELIEVE IN THE LAST SIX
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