Youd
Mr Youde
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
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Miss Kelly them P/A
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HONG KONG:
1.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
In his telegram no. 1375 the Governor has put forward his
proposals for filling the post of Director of Public Works in the
event of Mr J J Robson, the current holder of the post, being
substantively appointed as Secretary for the Environment.
2.
The promotion of Mr McDonald involves his passing over five
more senior officers. The reasons for this in each case are set
out in the telegram. From these it appears that Mr McDonald is
indeed the best qualified officer. Gibraltar and General Dept,
the Overseas Engineering Adviser and the ODA agree.
3.
Although the appointment will be provisional only, Hong Kong
have asked for our early agreement (Hong Kong telno. 1430). They
do not explain what they mean by "potential unease"
4.
It may
I see no reason to disagree with the recommendation of the
Governor and the P.S.C., but I think the appointment of a new D.P.W.
needs particular care. It seems probable that the department will
be a prime target of the new Anti-Corruption Commission.
well be that Mr McDonald is the right man for any clearing out that
may have to be done, but there is no mention of it.
It is not very
reassuring that the only comment on him by a senior officer in the
Secretariat is Mr Lloyd's remark in his 1973 report, that he does not
know him very well.
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
15.