UNCLASSIFIED
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG
TELNO 77
OF 22170OZ MARCH 91
UNCLASSIFIED
HKD
340/5
75
016116 MDLOAN 6350
TOP COPY Q DIST?
BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS: HONG KONG RED CROSS
1.
MR MICHAEL MEYER OF THE BRITISH RED CROSS (BRC) HAS SOUGHT OUR ADVICE ABOUT A LETTER HE HAS RECEIVED FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE HONG KONG RED CROSS (HKRC) IN ESSENCE ASKING FOR ADVICE ON HOW THE HKRC COULD BE INCLUDED AS A BRITISH UNDERTAKING UNDER THE TERMS OF THE SELECTION SCHEME.
2. WE ASKED MEYER TO SET OUT IN A LETTER THE LEGAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HKRC AND THE BRC.
fED
3.
WE ARE FAXING BOTH LETTERS TO YOU AND SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THE HKRC CLAIM TO BE INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS AT THE NEXT MEETING OF YOUR ADVISORY GROUP. NO DOUBT, HKRC CAN PROVIDE FURTHER BACKGROUND IF REQUIRED.
4 -
THE HOME OFFICE CONSIDER THAT THE HKRC COULD QUALIFY FOR POINTS UNDER SECTION 17 (PUBLIC SERVICE) BUT ARE DUBIOUS ABOUT A LISTING UNDER SECTION 16, ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE RED CROSS IS AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION. THEY ALSO WONDER IF IT MIGHT NOT ALSO SET A PRECEDENT FOR OTHER CHARITABLE BODIES WITH A UK PARENT. NEVERTHELESS THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS FOR YOUR GROUP TO ADVISE AND THE GOVERNOR TO DECIDE ON BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS.
5. GRATEFUL FOR ADVISORY GROUP'S DECISION IN DUE COURSE.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
HKD
MR MCLAREN
12
DISTRIBUTION
14
MR BURNS