TNAG-2677-FCO40-3874-Hong-Kong-garrison-withdrawal-plan-1993 — Page 69

A

Private Severary

water agrees.

SECRET

6. J. Davey 2011

Sunday Werte биват

(170 gm

д

29 NOV 1930

3.

16.

FROM:

J C Morris

고

Hong Kong Department

Mr

Mimio Chan 20%

DATE:

PS/Mr Goodlad

Private Secretary

063

29 November 1993

Sir T Daunt

Mr Lever

RECERY

Y

7 DEC 1993

Head/NPDD

Язочки

3,111

Issue

_X

n taken

HONG KONG: GARRISON RUN-DOWN

1. The Governor has now responded to the Secretary of State's

telegram alerting him to the Treasury proposal to amend plans

for the Hong Kong Garrison run-down I recommend that the

the substance of Secretary of State circulate this telegram to members of

OPD (K) and support the Governor's main point that pressing Hong

Kong to fund extra money for the garrison could precipitate a constitutional crisis putting all HKG funding for the garrison in jeopardy. I submit a self-explanatory draft covering

minute.

Background

B

C

2. My submission of 17 November contains the background.

Secretary of State wrote to the Chancellor on 19 November to

say that he proposed to consult the Governor about the

Treasury proposals and would circulate his views when they were available. Neither the Treasury nor MOD demurred.

The

3.

In his reply the Governor, as expected, argues that overall defence costs must continue to decline if the LegCo Finance Committee are to be persuaded to continue to approve the funds for Garrison support. The Treasury's proposal would increase defence costs and so could result in LegCo refusing to vote any further funds; action which would place the future of the Garrison in jeopardy.

Than

J C Morris

sub.garris.MORRIS

JEB

SECRET