CONFIDENTIAL
140
GR 110
IMMEDIATE CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 260835Z
CONFIDENTIAL
- RECEIVED JE
REGISTRY No. 80
2 8 MAY 1975
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 525 OF 26 MAY.
M.I.P.T.
FOR O'KEEFFE.
LAM REF.
NEXT
REF.
(139
COTY
THIS VERY KIND GESTURE UNFORTUNATELY CARRIES WITH IT TWO
SNAGS:
AND
(A) THE DONATION IS SMALL IN COMPARISON TO THE TOTAL COST, HONG KONG PAPERS BEING WHAT THEY ARE MAY BE EXPECTED TO MAKE UNKIND COMPARISONS.
(B) AS YOU KNOW OUR REAL NEED IS TO FIND PERMANENT HOMES FOR THESE PEOPLE, AND IT WOULD BE MOST UNFORTUNATE IF AT THIS STAGE POTENTIAL HOST COUNTRIES TOOK THE LINE THAT THEY WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE COST OF MAINTENANCE RATHER THAN ACCEPT THE REFUGEES FOR
SETTLEMENT.
"
2. WITH REGARD TO (A), I NOTE THAT THE GRANT IS DESCRIBED AS, "INITIAL'. IF IT IS YOUR INTENTION TO MAKE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION, NOW THAT YOU HAVE THE FIGURES, THE QUICKER THIS IS SAID THE BETTER.
3. WITH REGARD TO (B) I SUGGEST THAT IN ANY CASE YOU EMPHASISE THAT
ONCE AGAIN THAT HMG FEELS THE REAL PROBLEM IS RESETTLEMENT, AND SAY THE MOST USEFUL CONTRIBUTION THAT ALL FRIENDLY GOVERNMENTS CAN MAKE IS TO GIVE THE REFUGEES A HOME AND THAT SHE IS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO THIS END.
ра
尉
1616
CONFIDENTIAL
14.