TNAG-1262-FCO40-1602-MPs--letters-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 44

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significant number of the many thousands who may wish to leave Hong Kong, but there are countries in the world that are not as overcrowded as the United Kingdom, and where it should be possible, after sensible discussion, to make substantial re-

settlement agreements.

As we have seon with the Vietnamese refugees, countries are increasingly reluctant to take penniless refugees, but there is no reason why the potential refugees from Hong Kong should be penniless. Apart from entering into discussion with possible host countrics, such as Australia, Brazil and the Philippines, I believe that we should now begin to accumulate a substantial resettlement fund for possible use in

the mid-1990s.

It is obviously difficult for the Hong Kong Government to direct substantial amounts of revenue to such a fund while the British Government is negotiating with the People's Republic, but it is arguable that the establishment of such a fund could

It could be the Hong Kong have a beneficial effect on the discussions themselves. equivalent of the air raid shelters under Peking that the Chinese Communists ured to show their visitors with such prida.

T therefore suggest that after June 30th 1984 the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club charitable and commanity donations should be diverted into a Resettlement Fund. The annual omount involved which is currently running at about 350 milljen Hong Kong dollars would seem to me to be just about the right amount to invent in a contingency fund in the early years. The Hong Kong Government should be carpeted

3 to make goxl the contributions to numerous charitable organizations that now ch on the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. This could be met by diverting funds from the various capital expenditures and public works programmes which I so are running at 13} billion Hong Kong dollars in 1983/84, and which will clearly have to be scaled down sharply in the years ahead if proper agreements cannot be reached with the authorities of the People's Republic.

I shall be putting forward this suggestion to the Hong Kong Covernment, to the Foreign Office and to Downing Street, but I would very much welcome your preliminary views as a leading member of the community in Hong Kong, as a member of Exco, and - not rast - as a Steward of the Jockey Club.

Ale MdHp Czolbark