Mr O'Keeffe
CONFIDENTIAL
Copy to: Mr Dinwiddy (HKIOD)
Reference......
200
AID FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG
1.
As I shall be on leave from next week, you may like to know the latest position on this.
2. The £20,000 "initial" offer is in the final stages of processing. ODM have had to get Treasury authority to make the donation in cash. They expect no problems. This aspect is being dealt with by Miss Unsworth in the ODM Disaster Unit.
3. The question of a follow-up contribution is being handled by Mr Foster (Eland House X 708). The position here is that the ODM have about £250,000 left out of £1,000,000 aid earmarked for humanitarian aid in Indo-China. In addition to the Hong Kong commitment, they have to decide urgently how to respond to two appeals, one from the UNHCR and one from the International Red Cross. They have submitted on these to the (ODM) Private Office, making the point strongly, I am assured, that there is a further commitment to Hong Kong to be borne in mind. Beyond that, though, they have not proceeded and desk-level feeling seems to be that it was unwise of their Private Office to make the further commitment.
4.
Mr Foster has assured me that the Hong Kong commitment will not be lost sight of, but he asks that we should not expect immediate action because of the change of ministers. This is fair, but I have the feeling that if we are to get a further contribution out of the ODM, we shall have to advance a specific proposal, urging that £X in cash be given, with supporting reasons, and assuring the ODM that this would be a final payment.
11 June 1975
разопро
May 180 1716
D K Timms
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department
I have submitted inquest form further $50,000 to
der Williams.
a
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