In supporting the proposal Mr. Ronald Arculli reminded Members of the important part support for HK had played in the USA grant of most-favoured-nation status to China and considered that HK had a lot to lose if the contribution were not made.
to
Mr. Martin Barrow endorsed the amended proposal. His major concern was for the need maintain and strengthen HK's international links. If successful international links were not maintained, there would be no money available for social welfare or anything else.
HK was a
Mr. Paul Cheng supported the proposal,
proposal, whether in its original form or as amended. responsible member of
of the international community and the UN action should be supported. He advised that HK must not become an inward looking place.
Mr. Michael Cheng doubted the condition in the amended proposal would be binding on the UKG and considered the UKG should
should have already set aside the budget for its war
war effort. He did not want to see HK subsidising the war effort.
He therefore did not support the proposal. He detested war and the UKG had not requested help. If a contribution were made it would seem that HK was indirectly involved in the war and would attract terrorist attacks thereby jeopardising social security. If the war dragged on HK could not afford to make continuous contributions to the war effort
effort with a global recession just around the corner which
which could
could affect HK. Furthermore, the PADS project was about to be launched.
HK was in an unfavourable position
make a contribution of $23.0 million. If indeed HK was part of the international community he thought the money should go to the IRC for humanitarian
purposes and for use on all affected
persons.
at.
Mr.
Ronald Chow said he was poor but would donate if he could. He felt people should be allowed to decide on their donation and should not be coerced to pay $230 million. He was afraid such a sum would affect expenditure in other sectors. The HK public should be told why HK should pay such a sum and how it was arrived He wondered why, if the USA was HK's major trading partner the contribution was being made to UK. He noted that Taiwan had made no donation, and understood that Singapore was only providing medical help. He wondered whether HK could measure up to Japan. The use of the contribution was very important and it would be very ensure the sum would be used for the purposes specified. He preferred the sum to be donated to the IRC where it would certainly be used for humanitarian purposes. He felt there was a rush to pay and if the money was instead donated to the IRC, the UKG would be just as happy to see that HR people were cacing and kind. HK's other friends would be just as happy. He wondered whether, if such sum were paid, services in HK would be unaffected in the face of cutbacks in other expenditure.
difficult
to
a
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