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Reference
∙11.6
on education
au
End thy Police
attached
Mr Quantrill 12/11 Quanparille
Mr Thompqo
INFORMATION ON DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG
Накою!!
RECAVVL
31
OFFICER
PA
Action faw"?
No
1. During my recent visit to Hong Kong I made the point to various senior officials (among them the Chief Secretary and certain other Secretaries) that it would be helpful if Secretaries and Heads of Department could consider the possibility of writing to the Department informally from time to time to explain current developments in their areas of responsibility and provide an insight into their thinking about future policy. I said that such letters would help us to have a more accurate "feel" for the way things were going. At present we received full reports about disputes and other matters likely to arouse Parliamentary interest, and, we also got White Papers, Green Papers, ExCo papers and so on. But there was rarely anything in between except when the Governor chose to write about a particular subject. tioned letters written by the Political Adviser (at the Governor's request) as notable and welcome exceptions.
2. This question was discussed at my round-up meeting with the Governor and senior officials shortly before my departure.
The outcome is described in Mr Macpherson's letter of 25 October (attached). As you will see, my arguments fell largely on deaf ears. But the procedure described may prove slightly better than what we have now. We must see.
CODE 18-77
ми
2 November 1978
R JT McLaren
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