CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1390
OF 29200OZ JUNE 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
243/11
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR BOAT PEOPLE
76
061051
MDHOAN 4123
TOP COPY Q DIST?
1. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THAT WE ARE RUNNING INTO SOME DIFFICULTY WITH THE HKG ABOUT WHICH PROJECTS THE UK CONTRIBUTION SHOULD PAY FOR. THIS MUST SEEM EXCEEDINGLY TIRESOME AND BUREAUCRATIC TO HARD PRESSED OFFICIALS IN HONG KONG TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE. BUT WE DO HAVE TO JUSTIFY TO THE TREASURY HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY, BEARING IN MIND THAT THE CHIEF SECRETARY ORIGINALLY AGREED THAT IT SHOULD BE RELEASED FOR A PARTICULAR PROJECT URGED
UPON US BY HKG.
2.
THERE IS ALSO THE QUESTION OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WANTING TO BE ABLE TO VISIT A VBP CENTRE WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT UK CONTRIBUTION, AND THUS TO GIVE A LITTLE PUBLICITY TO OUR EFFORTS (WHICH WE RARELY GET NOW).
3.
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IT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING IF THE BRITISH PRESS PRESENT IN LARGE NUMBERS LEARNED THAT HMG'S FUNDS HAD BEEN SPENT ON PREFABRICATED HUTS FROM HOLLAND, WHEN THERE IS A BRITISH COMPANY ABLE AND WILLING TO SUPPLY A SIMILAR PRODUCT QUICKLY.
4. THERE IS VERY LITTLE TIME TO SORT THIS OUT BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE ARRIVES. GRATEFUL FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN DO.
HOWE
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
15
LIMITED
HKD
~~22
DISTRIBUTION
15
MR MCLAREN
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