CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 16010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 1033
OF 151915Z MAY 89
CONFIDENTIAL
Mko 243/24
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, HANOI
15
YOUR TELNO 1540: TENTS
1.
(16
072121
MDHOAN 1171
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
ODA HAVE ARRANGED FOR THE TENTS TO BE AIR-FREIGHTED TO YOU FROM TAIWAN, AT J AND S FRANKLIN'S EXPENSE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY SHOULD BE WITH YOU ON 17 MAY.
J AND S FRANKLIN ARE ALSO
SENDING OUT THEIR EXPERT FROM THE GULF (JEREMY MITTON) TO CO-ORDINATE OPERATIONS IN HONG KONG.
2.
ON THE QUESTION OF FINANCE, WE OF COURSE APPRECIATE THAT THE POLITICAL IMPACT LOCALLY WOULD BE MUCH GREATER IF THE COST OF THE TENTS WAS MET BY HMG. BUT, FOR THE REASONS EXPLAINED IN OUR TELNO 1022, THE ODA WOULD BE VERY HARD PRESSED TO FIND THE NECESSARY FUNDS ON TOP OF THE POUNDS 6 MILLION WHICH THEY HAVE JUST CONTRIBUTED TO THE PILLAR POINT PROJECT.
3.
NEVERTHELESS WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO REVERT TO MINISTERS TO ASK THEM TO RECONSIDER THEIR EARLIER RESPONSE (ALTHOUGH WE COULD NOT OF COURSE GUARANTEE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME). IN ORDER TO MAKE A CONVINCING CASE, HOWEVER, GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD CLARIFY THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
(I) WE NOTE FROM TUR THAT YOU MIGHT FACE DIFFICULTIES IF
YOU HAD TO ASK FOR FUNDS TO COVER THE COST OF FURTHER EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION. DOES THIS MEAN THAT YOU HAVE NO OTHER FUNDS AVAILABLE WHICH COULD BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE WITHOUT SEEKING AUTHORISATION FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE?
(II) WE NOTE FROM YOUR TELNO 1517 THAT YOU EXPECT TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 5,000 PLACES FOR NEW ARRIVALS IN SHAM SHUI PO BY 17 MAY.
WILL THIS REDUCE THE IMMEDIATE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TENTED
ACCOMMODATION?
HOWE
YYYY
PAGE
1
CONFIDENTIAL