TNAG-2752-FCO40-3967-Organisation-for-Economic-Co-operation-and-Development-(OECD-1994 — Page 7

Ms Bouch

DAC LIST: HONG KONG

Fi

26/2

1. mi moris fi 2. mr whitney

3. Rtn to me pie

PAB

2617

From: Sara Sharp

V537 ex0017 Date: 23 July 1993

1.

The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD is

reviewing its list of developing countries to reflect the changing nature of aid recipients. We expect no decision to be taken until the High Level meeting in December.

2. I am still waiting for comments from various people in the

ODA, but as far as we can tell monies for the Vietnamese boat

people in Hong Kong will remain unaffected these are charged to the Vietnam, not the Hong Kong, programme.

3. Funds to the UNHCR should also remain unaffected. If this

was not the case I do not doubt that other donors, apart from the

UK (not least Japan) would have serious problems with this

decision and a major rethink would be called for.

4.

In any event UK's hands, unlike other donors, are not tied

by the DAC list we can still give aid to a country whether or

not it is on the DAC list.

5.

As I explained yesterday, I have yet to receive definitive answers from my colleagues in the ODA, so the response outlined above is what we expect will happen. The reality may prove different.

Saren Sharp.

Sara Sharp

Aid Policy Department