CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2177
OF 301335Z JUNE 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 243/11
84
063051
MDHIAN 1515
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
PERSONAL FOR MCLAREN AUSS FROM GOVERNOR
YOUR TELNO 1390 : FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR BOAT PEOPLE
OUR SEPARATE TELEGRAM IN RESPONSE TO YOUR TELNO 1378 EXPLAINS THAT WE DID IN FACT ASK THE BRITISH COMPANY, TILDEN, IF THEY COULD SUPPLY THE ROMNEY-TYPE HUTS NEEDED FOR THE ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION AT WHITEHEAD. WHAT WE NEEDED FOR EMERGENCY USE WAS A MORE BASIC AND CHEAPER TYPE OF HUT THAN THE TILDEN HUTS WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY USED AT STAGE 1 OF WHITEHEAD AND WHICH WE SHALL USE FOR STAGES 3 AND 4. THE MORE BASIC VERSION WAS THE ONLY TYPE WHICH COULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION ON THE SCALE AND IN THE TIME
FRAME WE REQUIRE. THE DUTCH SUPPLIER WAS IN FACT RECOMMENDED TO US BY TILDEN.
2.
I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE NO PROBLEM WITH USING THE UK CONTRIBUTION FOR THE PROJECTS WE HAVE IN MIND. I AM SATISFIED THAT THESE ARE THE MOST APPROPRIATE, IN TERMS OF BOTH SPEED AND COST IN ORDER TO COPE WITH OUR PRESENT ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS. I NEED HARDLY REPEAT HOW DIFFICULT IT WILL BE, IN PRACTICAL AND POLITICAL TERMS, IF THE FUNDS CANNOT BE USED.
3.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S PROGRAMME INCLUDES A VISIT TO SEK KONG AND WHITEHEAD. BOTH ARE PLACES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN (SEK KONG) OR WE HOPE WILL BE (WHITEHEAD) A SIGNIFICANT UK CONTRIB- UTION, BOTH IN TERMS OF FINANCE AND MATERIALS. THEY OFFER A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR POSITIVE PUBLICITY ON HMG'S ASSISTANCE FOR COPING
WITH THE INFLUX OF BOAT PEOPLE.
WILSON
YYYY
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CONFIDENTIAL
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