3
3. Tel. No. 375 from tling Kong From Br. Colonies supply Mirmin -
Now su also atter attade at 4.
19/6/10 17/6/46
From the point of view of Supplies Department we can confirm that Hong Kong could make use of additional supplies of cotton yarn or textiles. I cannot say whether we might not feel that if Hong Kong got the large quantities suggested from U.N.R.R.A. her share from other sources ought not to be to some extent diminished in favour of other Colonies, e.g. Malaya, who also in need of cotton and textiles.
The expenditure proposed in (3) may involve a substantial amount of U.S. dollars.
But it is perhaps rather academic going into these questions before we know whether as a matter of general principle a British Colony should appeal to U.N.R.R.A. This is not a point upon which Supplies Department can comment usefully. I imagine it is a matter for I.R. Department.
I agree with Mr. Waugh and Mr. Bentham that at any rate at its present stage this is not an
economic subject although of course Supplies Depart- ment have an interest.
5.
6.
From
7
Foreign Office Freamy Freign Office
In Marie
28th June, 1946.
22/6/46.
24/0/46
28/6/46.
The general impression we have here is that in comparison to other countries in the Far East, Hong Kong is relatively well off. Our policy hitherto has been that we should not apply to U.N.R.R.A. for assistance for British Colonies, although naturally the Treasury are in favour of such a course - see eix(6) I understand that this policy was agreed at a high level some two years ago in connection with the drawing up of a supplies programme for all our Far Eastern Colonies and that the papers are registered on what was file 59015/1/44 and 45 entitled "Policy of H.M.G. in relation to U.N.R.R.A." and that this file has now been transferred to the International Relations Department. If an exception to this policy were not to be considered, I imagine that Malaya might have a better claim to help than Hong Kong. It seems clear from X in 1(g) and Y in 4 that the Hong Kong authorities themselves relise this.
/Apart