TNAG-1900-FCO40-2699-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-1989 — Page 67

CODE 18-77

Mr Haswell, HKD

RESTRICTED

Reference

Stamps talcom

away

121

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SCF AND HONG KONG STAMPS

1. I have now contacted the DRU's helpful contact at SCF (Norman Jackson, Overseas Accountant). Apologies for the delay - although this may be timely given Mr Maude's desire to approach NGOS on other issues.

2. SCF would in principle be "delighted" to accept the stamps. Their only proviso is that, given staffing resources at their end

(which is not to imply ours are any better), they would appreciate it if we could tear the stamps off the envelopes!). They are happy to take all the stamps - the commoner ones are sold en masse. Assuming we go ahead, the de-enveloped stamps should be sent to Neil Macleod in SCF's Stamp Department (yes, they have one) in their HQ in Camberwell. Nearer the time, you or I could contact him to discuss delivery arrangments (eg they may have a roving van available).

3. I stressed to Mr Jackson that I was only floating the idea at this stage and that we would contact them again after further thought. UND would be willing to deploy higher-up contacts within SCF, developed on the human rights side, to gain maximum publicity if need be.

4.

Having said that, we should think carefully about publicity given further possible approaches to SCF and other NGOs on monitoring in Vietnam. You mentioned that we should let SCF know that the stamps came from letters to the PM and that we are giving them to SCF because of their involvement within Hong Kong in VBP camps.

(I did not say any of this to Mr Jackson at this stage). Fair enough, but it could look awkward if SCF were subsequently to be approached and/or agree to become formally involved in Vietnam. The stamps could be portrayed, however crudely, as either a "sweetener" (if sent before negotiations on monitoring), or as

a spin off/reward"(if sent after). We should, I think, be sensitive to thing.

}

5. I therefore suggest that delivery of the stamps is given low key treatment. Mr Jackson did not ask why we were interested in giving them, though it must seem a bit strange. Perhaps fishing around, his parting comment much as predicted was to enquire

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half jokingly whether the FCO would consider sending all our stamps to SCF in future....

14 August 1989

Min legen

R GWYNN

UNITED NATIONS DEPARTMENT K155

270-2497

CC:

Mr Thorne o/r

Mr Perritt, SEAD

Mrs Wyeth, DRU, ODA

CB1GE

HKB

040/4