CONFIDENTIAL
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
PMV (HK) (74)12
COPY NO
57
14th December 1973
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO HONG KONG
12th-14th JANUARY 1974
AID
1.
Brief by Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Unofficial Members of Exco and Legco have complained in the past
that we give virtually no aid to the Colony. Hong Kong has, however, in
general, not been considered aid-worthy because of its relative wealth. The
GDP in the Colony is over £400 per head whereas in the under-developed
countries the average GDP is £92 per head. Last year, however, we announced
that, in addition to minor amounts of technical assistance, we were willing to
provide £500,000 for the Hong Kong Polytechnic and £400,000 for the Technical
Institutes. These grants are designed to assist technical education in the Colony
by the provision of books and equipment. For details see attached annex.
2.
3.
•
Possible Criticisms: That this is not enough aid.
Line to Take: Hong Kong is too wealthy to meet our normal aid
criteria. The aid announced in 1971 and 1972 is however a token of our special
relationship with, and interest in, the Colony.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
14th December 1973
CONFIDENTIAL