ARPASL
CONFIDENTIAL
Segeten n State MkD 24/3/18 to
From: A R Paul
Hong Kong Department
ре
31 Lii
Date:
31 March 1989
A
1 had see this
marked -& reorded that
Private Secretary
I was i
is
cc: PS/Lord Glenarthur
PS/Mr Eggar
housive, com
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: FINANCE
Mr Colvin, SEAD
Mr Brenton, UND
Mr Gillmore, o.r.
Mr McLaren
anxias chout
The question of substane
un What an wn to do will
Them?
1. The Secretary of State will wish to be aware of Hong Kong
telno 1050 which contains a formal request by the Governor that HMG
should make a contribution towards the cost of expanding facilities
to accommodate the major influx of boat people which is now looking
increasingly likely to happen this summer.
2.
I am sure that the Governor is right to warn that without a
British commitment to assist financially we shall have a very rough
ride and will incur a great deal of criticism.
3.
It will clearly be difficult to secure the level of financial support which the Governor evidently envisages (some £5-6 million). But we will have to move quickly, given the impending crisis in Hong
Kong.
4.
As a first step, I have sent a telegram today to Hong Kong
seeking further information on the Whitehead project. We are also
in touch with the ODA, who are of course the only possible source of
funds for this purpose. I have spoken to Mr McLaren, who is willing to chair a meeting with ODA officials next week to consider
whether, and if so how, we can respond to the Governor's request.
AR Panc
A R Paul
CONFIDENTIAL