HC Deb 26 November 1964 vol 702 cc1442-3
13. Mr. A. Royle

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much the Colony of Hong Kong pays towards the United Kingdom defence budget.

Mrs. White

The annual defence contribution is £1½ million. In addition, Her Majesty's Government have recently accepted, with appreciation, an offer by the Colony to contribute up to £6 million over the next six years to help finance the building programme of the Army and Royal Air Force in Hong Kong.

Mr. Royle

Could the hon. Lady inform the House if any other Colonial Territory makes a larger defence contribution to our budget here in the United Kingdom? Will she also give an assurance that her right hon. Friend will resist any efforts by any of his colleagues to cut down the size of the garrison in Hong Kong in view of the large contribution that this Colonial Territory makes to our defence budget?

Mrs. White

I could not answer the first part of the supplementary question without notice. As to the second part, I think I have made it clear that we have accepted this contribution because of the agreed programme of building work for defence purposes in Hong Kong.

Mr. Paget

Is my hon. Friend aware that Hong Kong differs from our other Colonies in that they are poor and Hong Kong is enormously rich, and that this contribution is a small and quite inadequate contribution compared with the expense to which we are put on its behalf?

Mrs. White

I am of course aware that it was suggested by the Select Committee on Estimates not long ago that a contribution from Hong Kong on a larger scale was desirable, but the amount of £6 million had not then been offered by the Government of Hong Kong. It has since been offered and we have accepted it gratefully. It is quite true, as my hon. and learned Friend says, that Hong Kong is in a better position to make a contribution than some other Colonies.

Mr. Royle

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.