TNAG-1294-FCO40-1649-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1984 — Page 81

C

KOMING DEES.

AKK

02218

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

Reference HK (UN.

See

- 8 MAR 1984

Miss A Adams UND

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

pAction Taken

cc Mr Scoular, UND(B) O

Mr Thomson, FED

HEB

HONG KONG

HKK 243/1

UNICEF FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES:

1.

2.

Please refer to your minute of 7 February to Mr Hoare.

As I explained to you on the telephone, Sir Bernard Ledwidge rang on 24 February to say that he would be leaving for China, via Paris, the following day, and that he would therefore welcome our advice on what he should say to the Chinese about UNICEF'S plans to set up a Committee in Hong Kong. After consulting Mr Thomson, FED, I told Sir Bernard that we saw no reason why he should not mention the matter to the Chinese, provided he did so informally.

3. As regards the feasibility of a UNICEF committee being set up in Hong Kong, our preliminary view is that this would not pose any major difficulties, though of course certain aspects of the propos would need careful consideration (eg nomenclature - para 4 of Mr Vittachi's letter refers). But we should need to consult Hong Kong before commenting in detail. It might be useful if we did this now, as it seems likely that Sir Bernard will be in touch with us again on his return from China. He has, after all, already written to the Governor outlining his plans.

4. Several other international charitable organisations have branches in Hong Kong. Most recently, the British Red Cross Society consulted us about granting full membership to its Hong Kong branch (Mr Peate's minute of 13 February). We told the Red Cross we had no objection. As regards activities of other UN agencies in Hong Kong, the most obvious example is UNHCR which operates in close cooperation with the Hong Kong Government.

5. If you would like us to consult the Hong Kong Government about this please let me know.

CODE 1877

1 March 1984

Chia Wallen

(MISS) O Walker

Hong Kong Department