TNAG-0313-FCO40-349-Reports-of-typhoons-and-storms-from-Hong-Kong-Typhoon-Rose---1976 — Page 33

PRIORITY

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 27982OZ

CONFIDENTIAL

(30

CONTI DENTIAL

TOP COPY

TO PRIORITY FCO TELMO 614 OF 27 AUCUST INFO PEKING,

CHINESE AID TO TYPHOON ROSE VICTIMS.

YOU HAVE NO DOUBT SEEN PRESS REPORTS THAT CHINESE RED CROSS HAVE DONATED 3 MILLION YUAN - HK DOLLARS 7.4 MILLION THROUGH

THE HONG KONG RED CROSS TO THE FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS AND THE CHINESE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TWO COMMUNIST ORGANISATIONS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF VICTIMS OF TYPHOON ROSE.

2. ALTHOUGH THE GIFT HAS OBVIOUS PROPAGANDA MOTIVES THE COMMUNIST

ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED SEEM TO BE MAKING SOME EFFORT TO DISTRIBUTE THIS LARGE SUM AMONGST PEOPLE WHO HAVE GENUINELY SUFFERED FROM

THE TYPHOON. THEY HAVE MADE SOME APPROACHES TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR HELP IN IDENTIFYING SUCH PEOPLE. WE HAVE DECIDED TO RESPOND CAUTIOUSLY TO THESE APPROACHES.

3. OUR INFORMATION SERVICES HAVE SAID THAT ANY MONEY THAT IS USED TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN DISTRESS IS WELCOME BUT THAT AS IT IS NOT A GIFT TO THE HONG KONG COVERNMENT IT IS NOT FOR US TO EXPRESS THANKS. WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO POINT OUT TACTFULLY THAT HE HAVE OUR

OWN REFLIEF ARRANGEMENTS AND THAT THIS MONEY FROM CHINA WAS NOT REALLY NEEDED, AND DOES NOT FLUG ANY GAP WHICH WE ARE NOT FINANCIALLY AND ORGANISATIONALY CAPABLE OF FILLING

OURSELVES.

TRENCH

PA.

3118

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED];

DEFARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:

FED

HKD

bbb &c

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No.51

31 AUG 1971

HKIL 11/1

НКИ

川

'CONFIDENTIAL