TNAG-0370-FCO40-416-Visit-of-Edward-Heath--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--12-1-1973 — Page 47

CONFIDENTIAL

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

PMV (HK) (74)12

COPY NO

57

14th December 1973

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO HONG KONG

12th-14th JANUARY 1974

AID

1.

Brief by Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Unofficial Members of Exco and Legco have complained in the past

that we give virtually no aid to the Colony. Hong Kong has, however, in

general, not been considered aid-worthy because of its relative wealth. The

GDP in the Colony is over £400 per head whereas in the under-developed

countries the average GDP is £92 per head. Last year, however, we announced

that, in addition to minor amounts of technical assistance, we were willing to

provide £500,000 for the Hong Kong Polytechnic and £400,000 for the Technical

Institutes. These grants are designed to assist technical education in the Colony

by the provision of books and equipment. For details see attached annex.

2.

3.

•

Possible Criticisms: That this is not enough aid.

Line to Take: Hong Kong is too wealthy to meet our normal aid

criteria. The aid announced in 1971 and 1972 is however a token of our special

relationship with, and interest in, the Colony.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

14th December 1973

CONFIDENTIAL