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THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED MORE SENSIBLE GIVEN THE RELATIVELY LIMITED SCOPE FOR STUDY OFFERED BY HONG KONG. IT COULD BE HELD IN TURNS BY ACADEMICS FROM A RANGE OF DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES (ECONOMIES, SOCIAL STUDIES, ANTHROPOLOGY, HISTORY ETC).
5.
YOUR FIRST TUR
IN CASE THIS PARTICULAR IDEA WOULD NOT APPEAL TO SIR S K, WE HAVE EXPLORED A SECOND OPTION WITH THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS: NAMELY FOR HMG TO ACCEPT THE DONATION AND THEN TO DISBURSE IT TO A NUMBER OF DESERVING CHARITIES. THIS OPTION, THOUGH SUPERFICIALLY SIMPLER, RAISES SEVERAL PROBLEMS. INDICATES SIR S K'S WISH TO ESTABLISH A FUND. TO FOLLOW THIS SECOND OPTION WE WOULD THEREFORE NEED TO DRAW UP A TRUST DEED AND ESTABLISH A BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHO WOULD DECIDE ON THE CHARITIES TO RECEIVE GRANTS, AND WOULD ADMINISTER THE FUND TO ENSURE THE CAPITAL WAS PRESERVED. IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR FCO LAWYERS AND TREASURY SOLICITORS TO DRAW UP THESE DOCUMENTS, AND FOR US TO SELECT TRUSTEES, BUT (NEXT TWO WORDS UNDERLINED) PRIMA FACIE IT WOULD SEEM MORE LOGICAL AND QUICKER FOR SIR S K TO INSTRUCT HIS
THE OWN LAWYERS TO DO SO, AND FOR HIM TO SELECT HIS TRUSTEES. CHARITY COMMISSIONERS ADVISE THAT IF THE FUND IS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE UK A MAJORITY OF THE TRUSTEES MUST BE UK RESIDENTS. A FURTHER COMPLICATION IS THAT THERE IS NO SHORT OR 'APPROVED' LIST OF UK CHARITIES: THE LIST OF UK REGISTERED CHARITIES HAS SEVERAL THOUSAND ENTRIES. ANY CHOICE BETWEEN THEM
WOULD TO AN EXTENT BE ARBITRARY.
6.
OUR INCLINATION, THEREFORE, IS TO PURSUE THE CULTURAL OPTION. IT MIGHT THEN BE POSSIBLE FOR A BRITISH CULTURAL OR EDUCATIONAL BODY TO ACCEPT THE DONATION FROM SIR S K, OR FOR THE FCO TO ACCEPT IT ON THEIR BEHALF.
7.
IF YOU
WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INITIAL VIEWS. FEEL WE ARE WORKING ON PROMISING LINES, YOU COULD INDICATE TO SIR SK THE OPTIONS WHICH WE ARE EXPLORING (EMPHASISING. THAT MUCH DETAIL STILL NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT) AND SEEK HIS REACTION. THE VERY LEAST HE CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE ARE WORKING ACTIVELY TO CONSIDER HOW HIS GENEROUS GIFT COULD BEST BE PUT TO USE.
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