TNAG-1294-FCO40-1649-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1984 — Page 65

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HOFO 012/10

Н.КК 022/8

TT FCO

DES

GRS 300

UNCLASSIFIED

TELELETTER

16 APR 1984

0420/10

Its

FROM MKC CHEUNG, ASST PRIVATE SECRETARY

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONG KONG

DATED 10 APRIL 1984

Sur Bernard Ledwige informed by phone of Cartents of letter.

Aa.

FOLLOWING FOR MISS OLIVIA WALKER

HONG KONG DEPT, FCO

COPY TO MISS A ADAMS,

UNICEF FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG

RE YOUR TELELETTER OF 9 APRIL.

FOLLOWING IS FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S REPLY TO SIR BERNARD LEDWIDGE ISSUED ON 2 APRIL:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LETTER OF 1 FEBRUARY ABOUT THE PROPOSED HONG KONG FUND-RAISING COMMITTEE FOR UNICEF. I AM SORRY NOT TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESPOND BEFORE NOW, BUT I HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM

HONG KONG ON THREE OCCASIONS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

I AM FULLY AWARE OF THE GOOD WORK OF THE UNICEF, NOT LEAST BECAUSE OF MY PREVIOUS CONNEXION WITH THE UK MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS. THERE IS, HOWEVER, A DIFFICULTY OVER MY DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN PROMOTING THE FORMATION OF A LOCAL COMMITTEE. FOR A LONG TIME, IT HAS BECOME AN ESTABLISHED PRACTICE HERE THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD BE ONLY INVOLVED IN OR ASSOCIATED WITH CHARITIES WHICH RAISE FUNDS FOR ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE TERRITORY, AND WHERE THE FUNDS ARE USED DIRECTLY TO THE BENEFIT OF HONG KONG. THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE DONE HERE, AND OUR OWN CHARITIES ARE IN CONSTANT NEED OF FUNDS. ALTHOUGH HONG KONG'S ASSOCIATION WITH UNICEF DATES BACK TO 1949, UNICEF ASSISTANCE TO HONG KONG HAS CEASED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. HOWEVER, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS CONTINUED TO MAKE A REGULAR ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION TO UNICEF.

AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, I MUST REGRETFULLY DECLINE THE INVITATION TO BE INVOLVED PERSONALLY WITH THE PROPOSED HONG KONG FUND-RAISING COMMITTEE FOR UNICEF. I AM AFRAID I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE SAME LINE WITH OTHER WORTHY CAUSES WHICH SEEK TO RAISE FUNDS IN HONG

I HOPE YOU WILL KONG (E.G. OXFAM AND SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND).

UNDERSTAND.

I AM NEVERTHELESS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT TWO LOCAL PERSONALITIES ALAN CHALKLEY AND BETTY IL DE FONSO - ARE KEEN TO LAUNCH A HONG KONG COMMITTEE. I WISH THEM WELL AND EVERY SUCCESS IN THEIR

ENDEAVOUR.

IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU AND I AM GLAD THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN ON SUCH A WORTHY CAUSE. MY BEST WISHES FOR A PLEASANT TRIP TO

CHINA.

SIGNED

MKC CHEUNG

NNNN

für I. Ledwridge can be contacted

at 54 Rue de Borgogne

ете

zeme wrondissement -75007 Parz

fel 7058026

fill 23/4

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