Ministerial level and it has been agreed that this should be in the form
of a technical assistance grant fully tied to British goods. Since we do
not yet have precise lists of equipment and books and since we do not
know the timing of the various request from Hong Kong, it is not possible
to forecast with any accuracy the amount to be disbursed annually. Other
factors which make such a forecast virtually impossible are uncertain
delivery dates and delivery delays. However, it is anticipated that the grant will begin to disburse in 1975/76 and be fully disbursed by late 1978 or early 1979. Provision has been made in the aid framework.
VII.
27.
RECOMMENDATION
The Hong Kong Government have indicated that the implementation
of these proposals will achieve the most effective use of the grant by
co-ordinating the provision of books and equipment with their anticipated
neeesin relation to the development of the Polytechnic. We in turn feel
that assistance in this form is vital to the future of a country whose development depends almost entirely on technology for the manufacture of goods for export. We are satisfied with the proposed ratio of expenditure between books and equipment and have no reason to doubt the ability of the Hong Kong authorities to select the most appropriate books and equipment as development
of the Polytechnic proceeds.
28.
It is lessere mequested at the Projects Committee recommend & the
Frecommend that the project as proposed, should be approved:-
ministo affroal of this project.
PL
O'Keeffe
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department