4. Clearly the choice must be yours; and I suppose that internal politics within Hong Kong are likely to count. We would have no strong objection to your appointing an expatriate head of delegation if that is what you thought best. It would probably help in relation to likely Chinese attitudes to the delegation at future meetings. But there could be difficulties in relation to our own image and relations with other delegations. Have you thought of selecting an "unofficial" who could be expected to be more tactful than Mr Ann? A further possibility is that the leader of the delegation might play the same rôle as the titular ministerial heads of some other delegations; ie appear only for the first day or two and then retire, leaving the real work to the other members of the delegation, whether expatriate or Chinese.
5.
Because of what is said about Mr Ann, I am not copying this letter.
2.
CONFIDENTIAL
R M Evans
Far Eastern Department
1.