J
Mr Graham
CONFIDENTIAL
hu
cc: Deputy Chief Clerk
Lt Col Rous
RHODESIA:
Col Reilly
OPA
Mr Steel
Mr Greenwood
Mr Stewart✓
Miss Spencer
√(28710
Qegitiell P.A
dees
HKK. 882/16.
877
STAFF OFFICER FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
As you know Colonel Reilly visited Hong Kong last weekend to brief Mr Henry on the proposal that he should be appointed Commiss- ioner of Police for the transitional period in Rhodesia. One of the matters raised by Mr Henry was his desire to have a personal staff officer.
2. Mr Henry has it in mind that such an appointment would assist him both before he takes up his appointment as Commissioner and during the transitional period. It is unlikely that Mr Henry will be available to come to London much in advance of Transfer Day and it will therefore be important to have an experienced colonial police officer who can participate in detailed planning here and also be available to make such trips to Hong Kong as are necessary to brief Mr Henry. Subsequently, in Salisbury, it would be extremely useful to him to have an officer who could assist him personally both in his relations with the Resident Commissioner's staff and with the police force. He would like the officer to be of Super- intendent rank and seconded from the Royal Hong Kong Police. Field Marshal Lord Carver has indicated that he approves such an appoint- ment and would now like Colonel Reilly to write to Mr Henry confirming that he can approach whoever he regards as suitable in Hong Kong on a confidential basis to see if he would be available. Colonel Reilly would propose to emphasise that there are no sient that the officer concerned would be needed at least until efter New Year.
3. Although the officer concerned would be supernumerary ie outside the direct chain of command it is important to consider whether hig appointment would cause added difficulties with the Rhodesians. They reacted strongly when they were first told of the intention to appoint a Commissioner of Police from outside but I have the impression that now they know who Lord Carver has in mind they are much more relaxed on this point. If, and I realise how important this word is, the overall settlement package was accepted I do not believe the appointment of a personal staff officer at superintendent level would be a sticking point. Indeed many might well regard it as a sensible idea (the Overseas Police Adviser certainly sees merit in
/such
69
CONFIDENTIAL