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forthcoming from international sources.
It is against this background that we have
had to consider the request for an increase in the
which also comes
defence contribution, and this at a time when it
has been proposed that all naval and R.A.F.
establishments should be withdrawn from the
in addition t
being
Colony and the garrison run dom to the minimum
necessary for internal security purposes.
Governor as you know has suggested that his
11
The
defence contribution should be reduced as a
measure of assistance in the refugee problem and
I enclose a copy of his despatch.
LEA
The Secretary of State instructed that in the
light of the Governor's despatch and his great
Copy of (3)
disquiet at the effect in the Colony of the defence
Some aspects by which are stil bay prowed with the Minister befense, reductions, the suggestion of an increased defence
contribution should not be referred to the Governor
at the present time an isolation
Should
but be
considered in the context of the Governor's counter
the implications of
proposal and of the problems raised by what must
necessarily be our attitude to U.N. assistance
in the matter of refugees.
This business raises a mixture of political
and financial problems whose difficulties you will
I think recognise, and on which we have not yet
reached any conclusions ourselves. We very much
need to discuss their implications with the people
in Hong Kong, and as the Colonial Secretary is
arriving here in a week's time, and the Financial
Secretary a little later we would like to defer
making any proposals to you until we have had a
chance of going over the problems with them.
I hope this will be acceptable to you and to
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/Charlton
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