TNAG-2224-FCO40-3195-Gulf-War-burden-sharing-Hong-Kong-contribution-1991 — Page 93

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 02013

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 070030Z HONG KONG

TELNO 278

OF 06183OZ FEBRUARY 91

m

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

30

31

017622

MDHOAN 7320

Ра

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN, DUSS

YOUR TELNO 413 : GULF : BURDEN SHARING

1.

I WAS SORRY, BUT BY NO MEANS SURPRISED, TO LEARN THAT YOU ARE ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTIES WITH SOME MEMBERS OF LEGCO OVER THE PROPOSED CONTRIBUTION. WE HAVE SEEN FOR OURSELVES THE EXTENT OF CRITISISM IN THE CHINESE PRESS OF THE PROPOSAL. I CAN WELL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS EXPRESSION OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT WOULD

PLAY BACK INTO LEGCO.

2. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE RIGHT TO PURSUE THE ALTERNATIVE SET OUT IN PARA 4 OF YOUR TUR. WE HAVE CONSULTED THE EMERGENCY UNIT, WHO CONFIRM THAT IT WOULD BE MANAGEABLE IF YOU WERE TO ASK US TO GIVE A GENERAL ASSURANCE THAT ANY HONG KONG CONTRIBUTION WOULD BE USED FOR LOGISTIC, MEDICAL AND OTHER SUPPORT FACILITIES. WHILST IT WOULD OF COURSE BE MUCH BETTER TO HAVE A NO STRINGS ATTACHED DONATION, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT THIS WOULD BE DIVISIVE, BOTH WITHIN LEGCO AND WITHIN THE WIDER COMMUNITY. THAT WOULD SERVE NEITHER YOUR INTERESTS, NOR THOSE OF HMG. WE ARE THEREFORE CONTENT FOR YOU TO PROCEED ALONG THE LINES YOU HAVE PROPOSED, BUT WE SHOULD WANT TO AVOID A DETAILED ACCOUNTING EXERCISE AS TO HOW THE

'MONEY SHOULD BE/HAS BEEN SPENT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

3.

AS REGARDS TIMING, WHILST THERE IS A GOOD CASE FOR DELAY, WE ACCEPT YOUR DECISION TO PROCEED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH

THE AIM OF RESOLVING THIS ISSUE AT THE FINANCE COMITTEE

MEETING ON 8 FEBRUARY.

4.

HURD

LORD CAITHNESS HAS SEEN THIS TELEGRAM AND AGREES WITH

IT.

YYYY

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CONFIDENTIAL