TNAG-0845-FCO40-1055-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 38

period of 1979-80 in project aid and there is another £3 million

available for projects which are intended to produce more revenue

for the New Hebrides. One of the big problems is going to be

after independence for the New Hebrides to generate its own

revenue to sustain itself because it has not very many resources.

In addition to that there will be 160 overseas aid personnel

provided by the British Government. Future levels of aid after

the end of 1980 will be a matter to be negotiated with the

government of the New Hebrides after it is elected in November.

As far as financial aid is concerned we would expect that to

gradually taper off but will start by a level which is pretty closely

related to what we have been spending until now. As far as the

level of French aid is concerned this is of course a matter for

the French Government and I'don't know that they have made any

commitments but we would hope they would be prepared to share the

aid burden pretty equally with Britain.

Question: How does that $3.5 million compare with continental aids in 1978-79 ?

Mr Blaker: That I am sorry I can't tell off the cuff.

Question: Do you expect in any way the relationship between Hong Kong and the

New Hebrides will in any way be altered by the forthcoming

independence ?

Mr Blaker: I don't know what the relations between Hong Kong and the New

Hebrides are at the moment, I'm sorry to say. But it will of

course be a matter for the government of the New Hebrides which

is going to be elected in November and we don't know what that

government is going to be until after the election.

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what