ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE
16.
A three-man team in the Hong Kong Section is right, but the grading of the posts is not. I favour retaining a seconded officer as Head of Section (DS5). An SRO occupying a DS7E post monitors, analyses and advises on Chinese attitudes to the future of Hong Kong and deals with a miscellany of internal affairs. This desk is of increasing importance and calls for a keen intellect.
I recommend that it be regraded DS7A/SRO and preferably be filled by a DS7A. A member of the Research cadre would have to be both willing and able to take on operational as well as research work. The third desk, D58, provides opportunities for training in Whitehall procedures and drafting but being concerned with internal affairs is not representative of geographical departments' work. It would, I believe, be over-egging the pudding to retain this desk at DS8 and I recommend it be regraded DS9 with some minor alteration of portfolio.
17. The Department should take credit for trimming the General Section which with a Grade DS7E and a Grade 9 is economically staffed. They have the advice of a former DS5 employed two days a week on a fee-paid basis and I recommend that this arrangement should continue at least for a further year.
18.
Registrar's Branch are content with registry procedures, as am I, and also with the staffing, but I am concerned at the length of time taken for new papers to reach Desk Officers and have recommended that this be given attention. There tends to be too much secretarial work for two and not enough for three. Provided that suitable accommodation can be found and it suits FED's needs I recommend that the third secretary should serve both HKGD and FED (ie a reduction of half an S2/3 post).
Future of HKGD
19.
A lot of thought has been given over the past few years to whether Hong Kong and General Department is a viable entity or whether it should be split up and merged with other departments, possibly as part of a larger reshuffle of the Asjan departments. In my view HKGD is viable in its present form and provides enough work for its staff. A Hong Kong Department alone would not. HKGD works closely and harmoniously with FED without avoidable duplication of effort. The arguments for merging the Hong Kong Section with FED would be strengthened if the Head of HKGD were not a China specialist and the Head of FED was. This does not apply at present.
20. The brigading of the Hong and Kong and General Sections is not entirely arbitrary since a large part of the General Section's work relates to Hong Kong, and in their regular visits to the Colony the Head of Department and Assistant get to know the personalities which helps to inform decisions on staffing. Policy work on matters of common interest to all the Dependent Territories can as conveniently be done in HKGD as anywhere else.
21.
Heads of the Asian departments and Mr Donald are content with the present arrangements and I see no compelling reason so far as the Hong Kong Section and FED are concerned to advocate change. FED is a particularly good department with great regional expertise which I would be loath to upset. A merger of Hong Kong Section with FED would in itself produce only one or two savings.
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ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE