TNAG-1975-FCO40-2808-Financial-assistance-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 55

CONFIDENTIAL

TO COPY DIST?

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 2101OOZ HONG KONG

TELNO 872

OF 20180OZ APRIL 89

нко HKD 245

27

173451

MDHOAN 9545

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD

MIPT : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG : FINANCE

1.

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL FIND THE DECISION ANNOUNCED IN MIPT

HELPFUL AND TIMELY. IT WAS TAKEN TODAY AT A MEETING CHAIRED

BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH LORD GLENARTHUR AND MR PATTERN.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT CHANNELING THE AID

THROUGH UNHCR AND TARGETTING IT ON THE PILLAR POINT PROJECT WAS THE ONLY (ONLY) WAY IN WHICH TO GET A POSITIVE DECISION WITHIN

THE TIMESCALE YOU REQUIRE. IT BECAME CLEAR, AFTER EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ODA THAT AID FOR THE WHITEHEAD PROJECT OR FOR THE EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION FOR THE NEW ARRIVALS WAS NOT A VIABLE OPTION.

2.

ALTHOUGH THIS OUTCOME IS NOT PERFECT I TRUST THAT IT WILL DO THE TRICK AS FAR AS THE LEGCO FINANCE COMMITTEE ARE CONCERNED AND THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO DERIVE MAXIMUM CREDIT FOR IT IN THE TERRITORY. CLEARLY SOME CARE WILL BE REQUIRED IN THE WAY THE

DECISION IS PRESENTED. I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND A MEANS OF ENSURING THAT THE CONTRIBUTION IS SEEN IN HONG KONG AS A GENUINE AND TANGIBLE EXPRESSION OF HMG'S CONCERN AND SOLIDARITY WITH

HONG KONG AT A DIFFICULT TIME FOR THE TERRITORY: AND THAT THIS

WILL HEAD OFF ANY COMMENT TO THE EFFECT THAT HMG'S CONSCIENCE PERMITS THEM ONLY TO ASSIST OVER THE CAMPS FOR REFUGEES, LEAVING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO DO THE DIRTY WORK IN THE DETENTION CENTRES.

HOWE

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

16

ΜΑΙΝ

16

LIMITED

HKD

NNNN

MR MCLAREN