08/4
Reference......
Mr Kinnear
In submitting the proposed reply to the PQ by Mr John Cronin I have recommended that nothing should be said when that Question is answered about the grant of equipment to the technical institutes. I think it would be better to get the defence contribution talks out of the way first before we consider publicity for the grant.
2
I mentioned at Sir L Monson's meeting this afternoon the letter to you from Mr O'Sullivan about the Polytechnic library. We are apparently having a row with the ODA on a number of fronts. ODA will have to give way in the long run and as we have already got our way with the money for the technical institutes we had better not pursue the question of books for the library, at any rate for the present. At an appropriate moment we should be able to get agreement to the purchase of some books out of the £400,000, if this is really what Mr Canning wants.
9 March 1971
Bu I moult
21973
En
E O Laird
Hong Kong Department