TNAG-1910-FCO40-2714-Financial-assistance-from-the-UK-Government-to-Vietnamese-re-1989 — Page 280

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5. IT IS ALREADY CLEAR THAT THERE WILL BE TWO ASPECTS TO LEGCO OPPOSITION TO THE PROVISION OF FURTHER FUNDS: CRITISISM OF THE FIRST ASYLUM POLICY AND DEMANDS THAT THE UK SHOULD SHARE THE BILL. WITH A UK COMMITMENT TO HELP ON FUNDING I BELIEVE THE FIRST POINT COULD BE COUNTERED, AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT. WITHOUT IT I ANTICIPATE A VERY ROUGH RIDE AND A GREAT DEAL OF CRITICISM OF HMG.

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I MUST NOW ASK THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE PUT TO MINISTERS WITH THE REQUEST THAT HMG SHOULD MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE COST OF EXPANDING THE FACILITIES AT WHITEHEAD. I HOPE YOU WILL BE PREPARED TO DO THIS ON THE BASIS OF A HALF SHARE IN THE COST.

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I REALISE THAT THIS POSES A CONSIDERABLE PROBLEMS FOR YOU IN TERMS OF WHAT HMG HAS DONE HITHERTO. NEVERTHELESS I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THE MATTERS COULD NOW BE CONSIDERED URGENTLY. WE SHALL BE FACED WITH SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT ACCOMMODATION WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

WILSON

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