ODA have been more forthcoming.
ODA officials have located a
5.
supply of tents and are confident that they could obtain a 707 or
DC8 freighter aircraft to carry them at short notice. The cost
would be of the order of £250,000, which would include approximately
£80,000 for the hire of the aircraft. There are (just) sufficient
funds in the ODA's Disaster Fund. But ODA officials will need to
consult Mr Patten before going ahead and arranging the shipment.
They have asked for a formal request from the FCO wing, in the form
of a minute to Mr Patten from an FCO Minister.
6. ODA criteria for agreeing to provide relief from their
disaster funds are based on the level of immediate humanitarian need
and the threat to human life. I consider that such a need does now
exist in Hong Kong and that the presence in Hong Kong harbour of
numbers of unseaworthy boats carrying asylum seekers would
constitute an immediate threat to human life.
7.
Hong Kong have today renewed their appeal for tents, which
are very urgently needed. They ask that if possible the tents
should arrive over the weekend. It would therefore be helpful if
Lord Glenarthur's letter could issue today.
8. The letter refers to the letter which the Secretary of State is
to write to the Chief Secretary about the financial implications of the situation in Hong Kong. I am in touch with Mr Ireton about this and plan to submit a draft shortly.
Arian
A R Paul
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