Mr Goulden
1HKK.026/7 1X2
INDEX
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OFFICER
PA
Personnel Services Department
Depar
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ESTRY Action Takez
VISITS TO HONG KONG BY FCO OFFICIALS
Hong Kong and General Department
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Broadband informed
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Marine & sce
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2013
1. Mr McLaren minuted to Mr Hunter on 2 October 1979 on this subject. He recalled the understanding that members of HKGD would need to visit Hong Kong from time to time, with the Head of Department normally paying 2 visits a year, the Assistant one a year and the Head of the Hong Kong Section or a desk officer also paying an annual visit.
2. It may be helpful if I recapitulate briefly the reasons why visits of this sort are necessary. HKGD are responsible both for overseeing the external relations of Hong Kong and for close liaison with the domestic departments of the territory's government. We do not, of course, in any way "govern" Hong Kong but there is extremely keen parliamentary and other interest in the territory here and we need not only to know what it going on but also to advise if we think that Hong Kong Departments are getting off on the wrong track. This means that a very large number of our departmental contacts, who for other departments are probably just across the road in Whitehall, are 8,000 miles away.
This, and the speed of development and change in Hong Kong makes it
I have found essential for us to keep in close personal touch. from experience that a visit involves not only gathering news and impressions but doing a quantity of practical business. I know that the Hong Kong authorities endorse this view.
3.
The purpose of this minute is to outline those visits which I think will be necessary up to the end of 1980. They are:
a) An initial familiarisation visit by Mr Morrice, the
new Assistant in the department. He has not worked on Hong Kong before and should certainly get out there before too long. I suggest a visit of about 2 weeks in May or June.
b) A visit by myself in October or November. This would
rather over 6 months after the familiarisation visit which I have just paid in February/March. This again should be about 2 weeks.
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Economic Adviser
4. In addition I would like to confirm an earlier proposal in Mr McLaren's minute of 2 October 1979 that Mr Simon Broadbent (Joint Head of Economists Department) should visit the territory.
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