whether our aid giving rules are too rigid.
(b) Mr Laird also speaks of seeking special provision from the Treasury. If the previous discussions on Kai Tak are any guide the Treasury are likely to take evasive action by saying that they have no objection of a grant to Hong Kong but it will have to be found out of monies already allocated for overseas aid. On the last occasion the Board of Trade recognised the validity on moral grounds of making funds available to Hong Kong at Kai Tak but had not that sort of money available. The ODM (as it then was) argued that Hong Kong "didn't need" any money. The situation has changed in the meantime in view of the ODA being brought under the ultimate direction of the Secretary of State. There is however no need to trouble the Secretary of State with this subject until we have received the Governor's specific proposals and seen how far with the help of the marker already put
offruat down by Mr Wilford we can carry them at the hol level.
лай
14 March 1972
(L Monson)
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