RESTRICTED
AID TO CHINA AND VIETNAM: THE HONG KONG DIMENSION
1. This note describes our aid programmes to China and Vietnam, and discusses the existing and potential Hong Kong dimension.
CHINA
2. Our bilateral aid programme to China consists of a technical
cooperation programme, running at some £7 million pa, and substantial assistance through the Aid and Trade Provision.
3. Our objectives are developmental, political and commercial. Developmentally, our aid programme is justified by China's poverty and ability to make effective use of aid to
of aid to promote economic development. Given China's part in global environmental problems, we are concerned to encourage the Chinese to take full
account of environmental considerations
considerations in pursuing economic goals.
4. Our political objectives are to encourage the Chinese
Government in the direction of reform and to take account of
British interests including Hong Kong, to improve China's
relations with the West and to influence China's attitude to
human rights. Our commercial objectives are to increase Chinese
awareness of what Britain has to offer in terms of hardware and
specialist skills and
and to
to assist British firms to establish
themselves in the China market.
TECHNICAL COOPERATION
5. Our to programme has four main component parts: training, English Language Teaching, consultancies and academic links.
RESTRICTED