15/'12
CONFIMENTIAL
o
ir
xcellency
ray "aclehose KOMA BR
Government House
LAST
REF.
2
NEKI
REF.
Hong Kong Department
FOREIGN AND COMC MALTH OFFICE
LONDON SW10
7 Larch 1972
ny thanks for your letter about aid.
already reported here or the proposed arrangerents in c11cwing terms -
"The upshot of all tia le that Sir Murray Bachehose till write to us proponia a way (or ways) in which G may be able to help iong Kong. We will then process the Governor's sugestions with other departments and if we can reach agreement with them tell the Governor that the way is open for a formal request. He will then engineer the formal request.
We will now wait for ropesale from you. The most important
hday from our point or view is plenty of warning or any Dogosuls because it is not going to be easy to persuade our colourucs in Whitehall to reverse the habits of thought about aid to Hong Kong to which they have become accustomed. OD have a very tight ceiling indeed for 1972/73, due to disbursements being fur hi her than past experience has led
If, however, them to expect in respect of forward plans. it were possible to delay payments until after our financial
1972/73, this might make the task easier.
3 0 Laird
CONFIDENTIAL