Mr Donald
Hit 415/L
BAD
- 8 JUN 1981
DESK OFFICER
IRI
PA
CONFIDENTIAL ADMIN IN CONFIDENCE
cc: Mr McLaren FED
REORGANISATION OF ASIAN DEPARTMENTS
1. I raised with the Governor in Hong Kong the question of a possible
merger of our Hong Kong Section with the present, or a fined down,
Far Eastern Department. I said that we were not happy at the idea
of such a merger and asked for his views.
2. Sir M MacLehose said that he would prefer to be consulted by letter
for a definitive view. His off-the-cuff reaction was that the people
involved and their experience were more important than the administra-
tive sector in which they operated. Having said that, he thought that
if Hong Kong affairs were to be dealt with in a large Far Eastern
Department, there would need to be a Grade 4 Deputy with special
responsibility for Hong Kong. Contrary to his earlier letter, he did
not altogether rule out the idea of a China/Hong Kong Department on its
own, provided that the necessary expertise on Hong Kong affairs was
available. I suggested that this might cause political difficulties
in Hong Kong. He thought that this was not necessarily so and that
Unofficials and others might accept that the inter-relationship of the
China and Hong Kong issues would make a merger a logical move.
3. This does not advance our case much. My own personal view remains
that there would be some political disadvantages in a merger. I
understand that you are to hold a meeting on this subject shortly,
perhaps we could consider after that whether or not we wish to go back
to the Governor.
Filip
26 May 1981
CONFIDENTIAL
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
ADMIN IN CONFIDENCE