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CONFIDENTIAL
5. As to assistance in the future, I am afraid that with the best will in the world nobody here could go beyond the formula which was agreed by Ministers during our negotiations over the defence contribution and which I quoted in paragraj h 3 of my letter to Hugh Norman-Walker of 23 November about the new joint *CC/ODA Departments. In that paragraph I said -
"I should also perhaps mention that although on the basis of financial need alone the claims of Hong Kong for aid from I cannot at present rank high it has been agreed (as was made clear during the discussions about the defence
contribution) that HMG would be prepared to consider providing assistance if an urgent eed were to arise and a specific The terms of any aid given would of course be determined in the light of circumstances."
case were put forward.
2.
E O Laird
CONFIDENTIAL
3/501/3
Hong Kong Department
POIGN AND COMMON WALTH OFFICE
LONDON SW1
bar hugh ormanaler KCMG OBE và Cerctery
C
23 November 1971
1.
You will be receiving in the usual way a copy of the Secretary of State's despatch o IIXU 3/501/3 of 15 November about the new arrangements for co-ordinating the work of the Cufondent territory departments of the hitehall and CDA Wings Of the FCO. We thought however that it would be helpful to you to know why Hong Kong Department had been excluded from these arrangements. Hence this letter, with which for ease of reference I am enclosi A further copy of the Secretary of State's despatch.
a
-
2. The decision to exclude Hong Kong from the new Dependent Territories Administration Division stems quite sim ly from the fact that the internal proule s over the handling of aid work an between the FCC and the ODA which the new organisation Ls tended to resolve do net in practice arise to any
iificant extent in the case of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is in flet in a very special position · for obvious reasons which I need not spell out to you. I would however like to make the point that although liong Kong Department will not be staffed jointly by the Whitehall and ODA Wings of the office this does not mean t. at the Department will cease to be part
Luc Serendent Territories Division of the CO. On the contrary, Hong Kong is - and will remain the major dependent territory of the Division (the Division in this wider sense should be distinguished from the Dependent Territories
ministrative Division - mentioned in the despatch - which 10 confined to the four joint FCO/ODA departments).
3. I should also perhaps ention that although on the wasis or financial need alone the claims of Hong Kong for aid from I cannot at present rank high it has been agreed (as was ...e clear during the disuussions about the defence contribution) that G would be prepared to consider providing assistance if an urgent need were to arise and a specific cane were put forward. The terms of any aid given would of course be determined in the light of circumstances.
PA
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20/12
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