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I C Orr Esq
Government Secretariat
Lower Albert Road
HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
233 4439
145
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1.
HKK 243/1 243/1
НК
REVIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 1 AUG 1978
OFFICER
PA
REG: TRY Action Teken
√7524 CLE
18 August 1978
(124
I am replying to one point in your letter CR 2/4841/77 iv of 21 July to Pat Morgan.
2. In paragraph 9 you mentioned that Lowman had asked whether the Hong Kong Government would be able to make a contribution to UNHCR funds. You raise the question separate from whether you would want to contribute, and whether there would not be constitutional objections to such a contribution.
3. I have consulted our Legal Adviser who is not quite sure to what you are referring. We accept that, because the UK has responsibilities for Hong Kong's external relations there may be some doubt about a direct contribution by you to an inter- national body. However, for my part I would have thought that, since the Hong Kong Government already contributes to at least one other UN agency, ie the UK fund for Drug Abuse Control, there would certainly be no insuperable difficulties. Perhaps you might pursue this with your own Law Officers.
4. If there does prove to be a slight problem which we can overcome, we would welcome any financial assistance which you could provide. We fully recognise, and have taken every opportunity to stress, that Hong Kong is already doing a very great deal to help these refugees. Nonetheless, further help in the form of a contribution would be useful ammunition for us and for you, particularly I would have thought, with the Americans.
5. I am copying this to Pat Morgan who will be replying to the other points in your letter.
co
P Morgan Baq, UND
J Thompson
Hong Kong & General Department
CONFIDENTIAL