8. Lord Balneilasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what grants the Colony of Hong Kong received from the United Kingdom, during 1961 and 1962; and how these compared with grants to other Colonial Territories.
§ Mr. FisherIn 1961 and 1962 three new colonial development and welfare schemes providing for a total grant of £238,125 have been approved and contributions totalling £12,369 have been made on account of epidemic and national disaster. Details of grants to other territories are contained in the Annual C.D. & W. White Paper and in the annual estimates; but any comparison of grants would also have to compare available local resources.
§ Lord BalnielSince Hong Kong has received so little financial assistance from this country and is almost self-sustaining through her own efforts, is not our moral obligation to protect her interests redoubled and would not failure to do this be very damaging to the export position of Hong Kong?
§ Mr. FisherHong Kong has considerable problems, but it also has a buoyant revenue and substantial reserves and we must allocate the available development and welfare funds where they are most needed.