RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY Nc.51
Der
29FEL 1972
HKKS/Y
LAST
REF.
R
Cafilulit: Eula à back bi
GOVERNment HOUSE
HONG KONG
6
th
29
15
21st February 1972
I promised to put on record with
you the understanding reached with the Secretary of State about aid.
This was against the background that while Hong Kong might not have an economic need for aid, it did have a political need for outward and visible signs of a special and beneficial relationship with the United Kingdom. Carefully selected aid, even if of comparatively small amounts, could meet this need.
In view of the criteria for aid normally applied it would be useful to make proposals which involved a British interest or which were educational or both.
Two subjects for aid suggested
an item in the programme for navigational aids at Kai Tak this would have to be of British manufacture to be a starter;
themselves:-
HKK 21/8
(a)
\=KK9/4
(b)
equipment for the polytechnic.
I explained to the Secretary of State that it would be better for the United Kingdom not to take the initiative in offering aid. It would be preferable to respond quickly to a request from Hong Kong. We left it that I would look into the possibilities and explore with the departments the prospects for requests. Once reasonably sure of the ground I could then stimulate formal requests from the bodies concerned here.
Mu
E.O. Laird Esq., CMG, MBÉ