STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
L
(b) A keen interest in all aspects of Government and public administration, in particular economic and social policy, in order to be able to promote positive thinking about new policies and the need for changes in policy within a territory.
(c) A keen sense of public relations and an aptitude for carrying out representational functions rather different from those of an Ambassador.
(d) Resilience and readiness to take independent decisions, and decisiveness in doing so.
4 I do not think that the post of Governor of Hong Kong is different in kind from other governorships, though the territory is much larger and the equivalent Diplomatic Service grading for the post is such that it lies a little apart from the other posts that are likely to continue over the next 10 years. Nevertheless, even in the case of Hong Kong it must be the case that direct experience of dependent territory work at a senior level is more relevant than any other kind of previous experience.
5 Of the other posts, ought not those which are regarded as the equivalent of Diplomatic Service Grade 4 to be regarded rather separately from the Grade 3 posts? Is a Grade 4 governorship normally to be regarded as a final post? Or are there Grade 4 governorships which could with advantage lead on to one of those equated with Grade 3? If so, it would help to raise the quality of candidates for the Grade 4 governor posts, and also provide invaluable training for the more senior governorships. A post as a Financial Secretary, Chief Secretary or Deputy Governor may be regarded as useful training for a governorship, for example, the posts of Chief Secretary, St Helena and Chief Secretary, Turks and Caicos Islands could usefully prepare E-stream officers for Grade 4 governorships; but for some Governor posts other kinds of experience, eg political experience of a region, may be the most important qualification, provided the requirements in paragraph 3 above are met. I agree that so long as suitable HMOCS and ex-HMOCS officers are still available they should be used in preference to Diplomatic Service officers.
6 I see strong constitutional and practical objections to appointing an "Inspector General of Dependent Territories". Constitutionally Governors cannot be made subordinate within their territory to any other official. I understand that experience, at least in the dependent territories themselves, of the post of "Dependent Territories' Adviser", now discontinued, was not happy. I think it is most important that on any policy matter concerning his territory a Governor should correspond with the responsible Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and not with an Adviser on the periphery, however distinguished he might be. Indeed, it is hard to see how an Adviser or Inspector General could do other than confuse the lines of communication between London and each Governor. Governors need careful selection and adequate preparation for their post, not a crutch to lean on.
/OTHER
2
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE