TNAG-1143-FCO40-1423-Hong-Kong-and-the-Falkland-Islands-crisis-1982 — Page 13

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'An open Letter To The Unofficial Members The I lative And

Executive Council - A Note On The Hitcklowo wads Contribution'

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we are most distressed to hear that two million pounds of the public funds of Hongkong are going to the South Alantic Funds i.e. every Hongkong resident is compelled to contribute' four dollars to the fighting of the Falklands which does not even concern any circles of Hongkong. However it must be said that we do have sympathy to those soldiers who died or injured in this senseless battle, they are yet another victims of Maggie Thatcher's own political ends.

First of all the decision to make a 'contribution' to the Falklands Funds was a hasty and a hazy one. It was on Friday, the 2nd of July 82, that your Council made this decision without any previous public consultations; and it was only after 5pm that the Government Information Service issued such notice to the press. Was this a deliberate move to avoid public confrontation and embarrassing questions from the press?

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The Council members remind the people of Hongkong frequently that the relationship. between Britain and Hongkong is a very 'close' one, so close that Britain can discriminate against us on immigration and nationality rights, textile quotas, overseas student fees etc. The Hongkong Government time and time again asks the people to put their trust in the Government, and in view of what is happening, it is just like a wife telling her husband not to worry about the very good affair she is having with another man.

We would not be exagerating too much if we say the Hongkong Government also claims to Inve a very close, if not closer, relationship with Mainland China. If you do what you claim to be, the Government should have made the same,

if not more, contribution to the flooding disaster in China. On top of this, the many Chinese cooks died in the Battle of Falklands are getting far less compensation than what was promised. The Right Honorable Hongkong Government seems to have less sympathy to its loyal citizens over this issue.

There are obviously many urgent needs to be met within the Hongkong 5.5 million population. Housing provisions are in crisis, endless landslips are killing large number of people each year and the welfare provisions are well below other advanced Asian countries. The Government's answer for all these is one and the same: The budgets are tight, and the reserve in Britain is for the rainy days.' How is it the n to justify spending this two million pounds while the victims of the recent landslips are still crying day and night, for their misfortune. And how much more rain do you need to use the reserve?

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So dear Councilors, please be reminded that you are spending public money at the local residents' expenses, and even if you donot feel accountable to we the 'stupid don't know nothing citizens of Hongkong, be aware that the Mainland Authority is watching your move very closely, such generosity would not help the negotiation of the 1997 problems. And may we also remind you that China actually openly condemned the invasion of the British forces, your decision to contribute could be taken as a direct opposition to the intention of the Chinese Government.

c.c to Mrs

Yours sincerely,

Hongkong Government Office in London

Governor of Hongkong

Nagoret Thatcher

i ress in Hongkong

Lord Belstead

The Chinese Embassy in London

Alfred Chan

сейсем

for the 1997 Action Group

correspondence sent to:

Mr T Chan (Chairman) 75 High St

Tring Hertfordshire England.