CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1756
OF 25150OZ SEPTEMBER 90
CONFIDENTIAL
053267
MDHOAN 7783
STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN DUSS
GULF CRISIS: BURDEN SHARING
1. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN FCO TELNO 151 TO BERNE CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS TO POSTS TO LOBBY HOST GOVERNMENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO STATES MOST AFFECTED BY THE COST OF MAKING SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ EFFECTIVE. HONG KONG WAS INCLUDED AMONG THE ACTION ADDRESSEES WITHOUT CONSULTATION WITH HKD, AND WITHOUT ANY SPECIAL THOUGHT BEING GIVEN TO THE TERRITORY'S STATUS.
2.
THE QUESTION NEVERTHELESS ARISES WHETHER THERE MIGHT BE ADVANTAGE TO HONG KONG IN MAKING A CONTRIBUTION OF SOME KIND AND IN BEING SEEN, EG BY THE AMERICANS, TO DO SO. I GATHER FROM ALAN PAUL THAT ANDREW BURNS HAD SOME DISCUSSION WITH YOU ABOUT THIS IN HONG KONG LAST WEEK. I KNOW THE SENSITIVITIES AND WELL RECALL THE FUSS LOCALLY WHEN A CONTRIBUTION WAS OFFERED TO THE UK AT THE TIME OF THE FALKLANDS WAR. YOU WILL NOT WANT TO REOPEN OLD DCA WOUNDS BUT HONG KONG WILL BE DEEPLY AFFECTED IF THE WORLD GOES INTO RECESSION AS A RESULT OF THE GULF CRISIS AND, AS SEEN FROM HERE, IT WOULD BE IN THE TERRITORY'S POLITICAL INTERESTS TO FIND SOME MEANS OF SHOULDERING AN APPROPRIATE SHARE OF THE COSTS INVOLVED IN SECURING IRAQI WITHDRAWAL FROM KUWAIT AND HELPING THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY THE APPLICATION OF SANCTIONS.
3.
IT WOULD OF COURSE BE FOR YOU TO DECIDE WHAT FORM OF CONTRIBUTION WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR HONG KONG AND CAUSE THE LEAST DIFFICULTY WITH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF LEGCO AND PUBLIC OPINION. (YOU WOULD NEED TO BEAR IN MIND THE CHINESE ANGLE TOO, THOUGH THAT SHOULD NOT BE TOO MUCH OF A PROBLEM: CHINA HAS SUPPORTED ALL THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS SO FAR.) THAT SAID, IF YOU THINK THE IDEA A STARTER WE COULD PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH WOULD BE PARTICULARLY WELCOME.
HURD
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