TNAG-2119-FCO40-3025-Future-of-Hong-Kong-general-1990 — Page 177

HKCO40/4

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21 NOV 1990

REGISTRY

: Aution Taxeli

де вижни

103

From: R F Wye

Far East Section

Research & Analysis Dept

OAB 2/124 210 6219/6216

Date: 19 November 1990

CC: Ms Major HKD

95

Mr Seaton FED

CONTEMPORARY CHINA INSTITUTE

1. I apologise for the dealy in responding to your minute of 14 November. in the meantime I have also seen Hong Kong telno 3377 (102) giving the Governor's views and in particular his suggestion that the FCO, perhaps through RAD, might contribute financially in some way. I am in the process of consulting within RAD about this. My preliminary view is that we might be able to help, but would prefer to offer assistance over specific requests rather than pull a lump sum out of the hat at this stage, and we would almost certainly not wish to get involved in a long term commitment to funding the CCI over a number of years. It would help if you could let me know your views in principle about the desirability of the FCO offering assistance to the CCI. I see know particular difficulty about keeping in touch with the CCI over this. already has a good relationship with Dr Ash, and we have for several years jointly organised and funded a seminar on China.

RAD

2. Mr Walker feels that the current political uncertainties in china might make it a difficult time to get such a project going, but that that consideration need not discourage us from supporting it in general. The proposed emphasis on legal and economic aspects would be useful, and the CCI under Dr Ash is a worthy and responsible institution. They would do a good job. I hope Sir P Cradock will be able to probe Dr Ash a little more on the details of his proposals, especially over who is to do the research and what precise topics they are hoping to investigate.

3. I do not have any more concrete suggestions than you at this stage. One source of funds that is becoming increasingly attractive to academics working on china is Taiwan, but I presume we would not wish to encourage this, especially if we were considering lending some material official support.

Rod Wye