TNAG-2224-FCO40-3195-Gulf-War-burden-sharing-Hong-Kong-contribution-1991 — Page 102

CONFIDENTIAL

2547 MDHIA 2369"

MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS HMG'S COSTS. THEY MADE THREE PARTICULAR POINTS:

A) WE SHOULD EMPHASISE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CONTRIBUTION WAS BEING MADE TO THE UK, THE GULF WAR WAS AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UNITED NATIONS, UNLIKE THE FALKLANDS IN WHICH ONLY HMG WAS INVOLVED.

B) WE SHOULD CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION THAT SEEMS TO EXIST LOCALLY

ABOUT THE COST OF THE GURKHAS WHO HAVE BEEN SENT FROM THE HONG KONG GARRISON TO THE GULF. IT IS APPARENTLY WIDELY THOUGHT THAT THESE ARE STILL BEING FINANCED MAINLY BY HKG UNDER THE DCA. THIS NOT/NOT THE CASE AND I HAVE TOLD MEMBERS OF EXCO THEY ARE FREE TO SAY SO.

C) THERE IS WIDESPREAD FEELING AMONG THE COMMUNITY THAT IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE FOR ANY FUNDS CONTRIBUTED BY HONG KONG TO BE USED

FOR HUMANITARIAN AND REHABILITATION PURPOSES. MEMBERS AGREED HOWEVER THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE MADE A CONDITION OF OUR CONTRIBUTION, ALTHOUGH THEY HOPED THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE FUNDS MIGHT BE USED FOR THESE PURPOSES.

5. WE CONSIDERED DELAYING A DECISION EITHER TO ALLOW MORE TIME

FOR THE PUBLIC TO ABSORB THE ISSUE OR TO WAIT FOR A FORMAL REQUEST. BUT, BECAUSE OF CHINESE NEW YEAR, DELAY WOULD MEAN NOT PUTTING A PAPER TO FINANCE COMMITTEE UNTIL THE END OF FEBRUARY AT THE EARLIEST. MY VIEW WHICH EXCO SUPPORTED, IS THAT, IF WE ARE GOING TO ACT WE SHOULD DO SO SOON, AND THAT THERE IS SOME ADVANTAGE IN DOING SO IN ADVANCE OF A FORMAL REQUEST.

6. THIS AFTERNOON, ALLEN LEE CHAIRED AN INFORMAL INTERNAL MEETING 'OF LEGCO. THERE WAS A FAIRLY EVEN SPLIT OF OPINION AMONG THOSE

PRESENT. BUT HE HAS CONFIRMED HIS PREVIOUS ADVICE THAT A MAJORITY

OF MEMBERS OF LEGCO ARE LIKELY TO SUPPORT A PROPOSAL THAT A CONTRIBUTION TO BE MADE TO HMG'S WAR COSTS, ALTHOUGH THERE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER WHO OPPOSE. THIS WILL INCLUDE THOSE WHO ARE NORMALLY CLOSE TO THE CHINESE.

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7 WE WILL NOW PUT A PROPOSAL TO FINANCE COMMITTEE ON 8 FEBRUARY.

THIS WILL BE TO THE EFFECT THAT A CONTRIBUTION OF HKD230 MILLION SHOULD BE MADE TO HMG, AND THAT NO CONDITION WILL BE ATTACHED TO THIS. BUT THE PAPER WILL SAY WE WILL EXPRESS THE HOPE THAT SOME OF THE MONEY CAN BE USED FOR HUMANITARIAN NON-MILITARY PURPOSES.

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