TNAG-0313-FCO40-349-Reports-of-typhoons-and-storms-from-Hong-Kong-Typhoon-Rose---1976 — Page 14

5

Y.E. (via Hon. C.S.)

CONFIDENTIAL

Typhoon Rose and Gift from China

Mr. TAM Kon of the NCNA rang me up in the morning

of August 24 to say that he would like to come and see me in the office to talk about the gift of 3 million yuan from the Chinese Red Cross to the victims of Typhoon Rose in Hong Kong which had been announced that morning in the press.

2.

The NCNA representatives had never in the past been in my office. In 1968 when we had several discussions face to face with Messrs. Tam & Pun (usually of a rather disagree- able nature) we had occasionally met in the Secretariat building but had taken care to hold the meetings in waiting rooms on the 5th or 1st floors. On this occasion I thought

it unnecessary to make an issue of the meeting place and immediately said that I would be happy to see Mr. Tam that afternoon. We agreed on 3 o'clock.

3.

Mr. Tam arrived shortly after 3 p.m. full of smiles and charm. After a few polite remarks about the absence of my Assistant and the heavy burden of work I must be carrying etc., he said that he had come on the instructions of his director, LEUNG Wai-lam, to present his compliments and to inform me officially that the Chinese Red Cross had transmitted 3 million yuan through the Hong Kong Red Cross to the Federation of Trade Unions and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce for distribution to victims of Typhoon Rose. They wanted us to know of this in order that they might have our co-operation in avoiding any trouble in the distribution of the money.

4.

I said that we appreciated this friendly and generous gesture. What sort of trouble did he have in mind? Did he want help in identifying the people to receive the money or was he thinking that the distributors might be set upon or encounter other difficulties in distributing cash?

5.

Mr. Tam replied that it was the second kind of problem. They did not need help in making lists of people to receive the money.

6.

I said that they could depend upon us to prevent their distributors being robbed. I added that if they wanted any particular help they should let us know exactly what it was they wanted.

7.

He

The

Mr. Tam seemed to find these remarks adequate and did not give any further details of what kind of help they expected. He made it clear that the distribution was in the hands of the F.T.U. and the General Chamber of Commerce. also said they would distribute by cheque, not in cash. funds were already in the Bank of China. He quoted the sum as 3 million yuan and said he wasn't very good at arithmetic but thought this was worth 10 or 11 million Hong Kong dollars. (In fact the cheque turned out to be $7,425,742.00.)

8.

Mr. Tam then enquired whether the Hong Kong Government was doing anything for the victims of Typhoon Rose.

/Contd..

CONFIDENTIAL