Mr. Laird.
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Reference..........
I million for the Polytechnic.
You asked for papers about the alleged promise of £I m.
The figure of £I million which Mr. Tang alleges was promised by Lord Shepherd first appears in Murray's letter of 2 July 1970 to Mr. Collins of TETOC at (17). In the letter Mr. Murray quotes Mr. Canning, the Director of Education, as saying that Mr. Tang "was slightly wide of the mark".
2. A further reference is in Mr. Wootton's letter of 10 July 1970 to you at (23).
Mr. Murray in his minute of 17 August at (25) states that he checked with Mr. Goddon, then Private Secretary to Lord Shepherd, who had no recollection of any such statement being made by Lord Shepherd.
3.
Mr. Blackwell in Christian telegram II of 9 December amplifies the promise to "a million pound library for college including technical books and buildings".
4.
5.
Whatever Mr. Tang's recollection, there is no evidence that any promise was made by Lord Shepherd. If the Hong Kong Government are unwilling to accept the £400,000 grant for Technical Institutes, possibly it could be devoted to a technical library for the Polytechnic instead.
Kinnear.
G.F. 23.2.7I
7.Kinnear
Please also see reference in H.K, tel. 23 at (4) on #KK 1879 about the defence contribution.