GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.
WED 14 APR 93 69:47
PG.16
DOVNE
IN PRACTICE THAT WOULD AT LEAST MEAN WITHDRAWING A TH GARRISON.
BUT FOR THE (COND GHURKA BATTALION IN 1994 RATHER THAN IN 1995. COST REASONS SET OUT BELOW IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY ALSO BE NECESSARY TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SAVINGS QUICKLY.
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COSTS
5. SPENDING ON THE GARRISON IN THE 1992/93 FINANCIAL YEAR HAS EXCEEDED THE BUDGETARY PROVISION APPROVED BY LEGCO. IN PART THIS
BUT WE HAVE ALSO WHS DUE TO UNDER-ESTIMATES BY THE GARRISON.
QUESTIONED A NUMBER OF ITEMS IN THE 4TH QUARTER ACCOUNTS
IF SATISFACTORY ANSWERS ARE RECEIVED WE WILL PRESENTED TO US.
PAY UP. BUT GIVEN THE TIME CONSTRAINTS THIS WILL MOST LIKELY BE IN APRIL, WHEN ANY JUSTIFIED BALANCE WILL BE MET FROM NEXT
I HAVE EXPLAINED THE POSITION TO SIR YEAR'S APPROPRIATIONS.
CHRISTOPHER FRANCE.
6.
MOD HAVE POINTED TO OUR FAVOURABLE BUDGET AND RESERVE SITUATION. THEY HAVE ASKED WHY WE COULD NOT CONVINCE LEGCO OF THE NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTARY FUNDS. THE REASONS, WHICH APPLY NOT JUST THIS YEAR BUT WILL APPLY INCREASINGLY BETWEEN NOW AND 1997, ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(A) OTHER THAN AT SEA, THE GENERAL PERCEPTION IS THAT THE
WE USED THE GARRISON NOW DOES VERY LITTLE FOR HONG KONG. ARGUMENT WITH LEGCO, WHEN THE POLICE AND AUXILIARY AIRFORCE WERE BEING EXPANDED TO TAKE OVER ON THE BORDER, THAT THE GARRISON WOULD BE ABLE TO SHRINK. LEGCO MEMBERS NOW EXPECT IT TO.
(B) AS HONG KONG PREPARES FOR ITS NEW SOVEREIGN, SPENDING ON FORCES WHICH MANY NATURALLY EQUATE WITH DEFENCE AGAINST CHINA IS NOT GOING TO WIN SYMPATHETIC HEARING.
(C) AFTER 1997, CHINA HAS UNDERTAKEN IN THE JOINT DECLARATION TO PAY FOR ALL MILITARY FORCES WHICH IT SENDS TO HONG KONG. HONG
CONTRASTS WITH THE PRE-1997 KONG WILL MAKE NO CONTRIBUTION. SITUATION ARE INEVITABLY MADE.
(D) UNLIKE AT WESTMINSTER WE HAVE NO GOVERNMENT PARTY AND NO DEFENCE LOBBY. 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
RATHER IT WAS THAT THE ENTIRE DEFENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN REJECTED.
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
IF AT ALL POSSIBLE IN 1992/93, BUT WITH THAT INCLUDED MUST
IN EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR THERE MUST ALSO DECLINE IN REAL TERMS. 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
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