Background Note
Mr. H. G. Beard's service as Chief Banking Inspector,
Hong kong (2 April - 25 May. 1967)
In December 1966, at the request of the Government of Hong Kong, the Bank of England undertook to help to find a suitably qualified candide to for a new post of Chief Banking Inspector in the Office of
In a circular letter iamed the Commissioner of Banking, Hong Kong.
to member banks of the British Bankers Association it was stated that the dutica of the Chief Bonking Inspector were to assist the Commissioner in all banking matters and that he should also be able to act ea Commissioner during that officer's absenco.
2.
Ar. Bourd (who was then aged 53 and had been with National & Grindlaya for years) was the candidate selected for this post.
On
3 March, 1967 the Ministry of Overscas Development sent him an offor of appointment for a period of eighteen months to the service of the liong Kong Government, stating that his duties would be "to report upon and advise on the correction of the financial conditions cf the Banks". Mr. Beard accepted this offer and signed a contract
He arrived in Hong Kong with the Crown Agents on 22 March, 1967.
on 3 April, 1967.
3. The Commissioner of Bonking was due to depart on leave in June and another officer (r. 1. G. Fox, who had been appointed on special terms in 1965 as a temporary professional expert end given the informal designation of Banking Inspector) was selected to act in his ebnence. The reason given for not molecting Mr. Beard was that it was too soon altor his arrival in Hong Kong and that an
In fact, officer of greater local experience was to be referred. the decision to appoint Mr. Fox to act for the Commissioner had been taken some time before Mr. Beard had been appointed. envisaged that Mr. Fox would continue in Government service after the Commissioner's return from leave and, indeed, this was the rearon for Mr. Beard's appointment to the new post.
It was not
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