Mr Clewly
Reference
2
EQUIPMENT FOR TECHNICAL INSTITUTES
With reference to the ODA letter to Mr Tomss of
21 May (Folio 64), concerning a possible contribution
by British Industry to buy equipment for the Institutes. 2. You will see that in our original telegram to Hong Kong of 17 February (Folio 27), we informed Hong Kong that HMG 'will contribute up to £100,000 per institute to purchase equipment within a total cost of £400,000 over a
period of 4 years. This was the result of an amendment by Mr Kershaw. (see Fol.26). It was decided originally that our plan to approach British industry for a contribution should not be announced to Hong Kong(Fol.250 but as you will see, in our Telegram,
we did tell Hong Kong this.
for some reason
3. ODA were then planning that if Hong Kong accepted the offer, they would get their Technical Adviser to agree with Hong Kong the list of equipment required on the basis of which an approach an could then be made to British Industry. This is what they now intend to do, as
a suitable opportunity is presented by the visit of their
Asst. Adviser to Hong Kong in June.
肄。
We shall have to be careful that ODA, in view of their original reluctance to grant aid to Hong Kong, do
not back down from the promise to contribute up to £400,000
The DTI made it plain in February that it would be difficult to obtain much support from Industry (see Mr Laird's Minute of 17 February/Folio24). Mr Toms' letter of 24 May underlines the fact that there is no necessary commitment to obtaining this support, and that failure to do so was never intended to be an excuse for reneging the promise to provide, in some way or other, £400,000. As I understand it, if the worst comes to pass, then
HMG will have to bear the total cost.
her Laghest. thank you.
This is a file we want for
Alambr
(A.P.B. Lambert)
1 June, 1971
fur mac he hase.
FNA pl.
DD 737719 557664 500M 2/71 GM 3643/2
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