CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 21010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 872
OF 2018OOZ APRIL 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 243/11
22
173451 MDHOAN 9545
2
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
MIPT : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG FINANCE
1 I HOPE THAT YOU WILL FIND THE DECISION ANNOUNCED IN MIPT HELPFUL AND TIMELY. IT WAS TAKEN TODAY AT A MEETING CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH LORD GLENARTHUR AND MR PATTERN. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT CHANNELING THE AID
THROUGH UNHCR AND TARGETTING IT ON THE PILLAR POINT PROJECT WAS THE ONLY (ONLY) WAY IN WHICH TO GET A POSITIVE DECISION WITHIN THE TIMESCALE YOU REQUIRE. IT BECAME CLEAR, AFTER EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ODA THAT AID FOR THE WHITEHEAD PROJECT OR FOR THE EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION FOR THE NEW ARRIVALS WAS NOT A
VIABLE OPTION.
2.
ALTHOUGH THIS OUTCOME IS NOT PERFECT, I TRUST THAT IT WILL DO THE TRICK AS FAR AS THE LEGCO FINANCE COMMITTEE ARE CONCERNED AND THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO DERIVE MAXIMUM CREDIT FOR IT IN THE TERRITORY. CLEARLY SOME CARE WILL BE REQUIRED IN THE WAY THE
DECISION IS PRESENTED. I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND A MEANS OF ENSURING THAT THE CONTRIBUTION IS SEEN IN HONG KONG AS A GENUINE AND TANGIBLE EXPRESSION OF HMG'S CONCERN AND SOLIDARITY WITH HONG KONG AT A DIFFICULT TIME FOR THE TERRITORY: AND THAT THIS WILL HEAD OFF ANY COMMENT TO THE EFFECT THAT HMG'S CONSCIENCE PERMITS THEM ONLY TO ASSIST OVER THE CAMPS FOR REFUGEES, LEAVING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO DO THE DIRTY WORK IN THE DETENTION CENTRES.
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MR MCLAREN
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