this question is that we shall cover all the
costs of this ourselves, then it will be for
your Department to make out the political case
when we approach the Treasury、 and.
Although
halving the costs with Hong Kong was not an absolute condition
implicit stipulation of the original
Chief Secretary's agreement, I cannot rule out
a bumpy ride if we go down this road.
would
However, if we decide we should cease to fund
event
the scheme in the light of Hong Kong's
non-co-operation then we cannot apply for an
CRF
advance from the GF as we cannot guarantee that
we intend to spend the funds this year.
(Incidentally, in line with the general policy
ол
of not allowing expenditure activities not yet
authorised by Parliament, the Treasury have
ruled out the use of AUS programme budgets in
this case
:)
All the above, when read with the need to sign
an agreement with the Vietnamese Government
before they are prepared to take in any VBPs,
points to our not approaching H M Treasury
until we have formal Hong Kong agreement to
may meeting half the costs. This effectively rules
out a start date of 17 July.
(iii)
Thirdly, we need to decide when we are likely
to need the £ 5 million HMG has pledged towards