CONFIDENTIAL
so and it would be better to tell them now rather than wait
for a renewed request. FRD who represent the FCO on the Committee
on Aid strongly advise against putting this proposal to the ODA
at this stage. I do not think we need be defensive about this since
the Hong Kong Government having urged us originally to allot £250,000
for aid projects (for the Polytechnic and technical institutes) for
the present financial year have been extraordinarily dilatory.
Although we were promised in the early autumn that substantial orders
would be with us soon, they have still not turned up.
8.
I submit a draft letter.
FRD concur.
22 January 1974
cc
Mr Kerr (FRD)
M A Goodfellow
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
1.
I agree generally with Mr Goodfellow's conclusions. But
we are getting so stuck with the money already provided for the
Polytechnic, because of the failure of Hong Kong to make their plans
or provide us with the necessary information, that I would like to
discuss with you whether there are any other possible solutions to the
problem of political aid for Hong Kong.
agreed
draft
in ginent:
giveml. but the arverded dist
с
24 January 1973
Dest
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.