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10. There are obvious potential difficulties about appointing an
officer to the Governor's staff. Past experience suggests that the
officer concerned might quickly come to view the local scene through Hong Kong eyes only, though this risk would be diminished by short tours of duty and regular visits to London for consultations. The difficulties might arise at an even earlier stage. An attempt to appoint someone to perform the tasks I have in mind might be seen by the present Governor as a vote of no confidence in his capacity to exercise his function as HMG's representative in Hong Kong. We know that Sir Murray MacLehose considers he has little to learn about domestic political attitudes here. He has been "exposed" to members of the TUC and NEC during visits here and meets a large number of MPs visiting Hong Kong. Nevertheless, as making an important contribution to this task and despite the difficulties I have mentioned, I should like to float the proposal as diplomat- ically as possible with the Governor when I see him in Hong Kong next month. If he resists strongly I would not press it then but it could then be taken up again with him when he is here in November.
11. Ministers have decided on an interventionist role in our relations with Hong Kong. This role is to be carried out primarily by our insistence on the execution of the changes set out in the Planning Paper. In fact all these changes would almost certainly have been undertaken in time without our intervention. The effect of our intervention will come about because of the 5 year time scale laid down as a framework for the execution of the plan. Having decided on an interventionist rôle, we must not only monitor the effects of intervention using the methods outlined above, but also assist the Hong Kong Government to bring about the changes called for within the timescale laid down. The best way to do this is by having Diplomatic Service (and Home Civil Service) presences in or near the policy making positions in the Hong Kong Government. This can only be done by seconding to the Hong Kong Government career Diplomatic and Home Officials. loyally their expertise to Hong Kong, primary loyalty to HMG in Britain.
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Officials who, while giving would still give their The present Governor,
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