TNAG-2789-FCO40-4028-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 38

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO TELELETTER PEKING

TELELETTER NFR

OF 121544Z MAY 93

INFO TELELETTER HONG KONG

RESTRICTED

HICC 000/1

RECEIVED IN DECISTRY

SKC

BLX

SMAI 1993

REGISTRY

FA Action Taken

4

052150

MDTTAN 2410

О

Сорил

M13-5-93

OM Maris

13/5

FROM P F RICKETTS, HKD

TO SIR ROBIN MCLAREN, PEKING

TO MICHAEL SZE ESQ, SCA, HONG KONG

TO WILLIAM EHRMAN ESQ, PA, HONG KONG

Mr Beat/s

pa.

13/5

STATUS OF THE HONG KONG RED CROSS AFTER 1997

1.

The Countess of Limerick (Chairman of the British Red Cross) and two of her Directors came to see me on 11 May to discuss how the advent of 1997 was likely to affect the operations of the Hong Kong Red Cross. Lady Limerick will be in Peking for a meeting of the Asia/Pacific region of the Red Cross from 24 May (staying at the Beijing Hotel). I understand that her party are in touch with the Embassy about a call on you.

2. Lady Limerick told us that the Hong Kong Branch of the Red Cross comes organisationally under the British Red Cross. There have been some moves in recent years to give them greater autonomy. They do not contribute to the British Red Cross but contributions by the Hong Kong Branch to other Red Cross activities worldwide are routed through the British Red Cross. The Hong Kong Branch have developed quite good links with the Guangdong Provincial Organisation, but fewer with the Chinese Red Cross in Peking. They face a particular problem in adapting to 1997 because Red Cross rules provide that there can only be one branch in any one country.

3. At Lady Limerick's request, we briefed her on the assurances in the Basic Law relevant to NGOs like the Red Cross (BL144, 146, 148 and 149 in particular). It emerged that the Red Cross's particular concerns were:

(i) should the Hong Kong Red Cross be making early contact with the Chinese Red Cross in Peking to open up a discussion of a quote heads of agreement unquote covering the transition in 1997?

1

PAGE

RESTRICTED