HKA 431/393/6
INDL
IN REGISTRY NO. 51
06 FEB 1981
OFFICER
AZ STDY
PA
Ac
SPEAKING NOTE FOR NO 1 BOARD, WEDNESDAY, 28 JANUARY 1981
ITEM 1:
CHIEF SECRETARY, HONG KONG:
C P HADDON-CAVE
1. Sir Jack Cater, the present incumbent, is due to retire in the
autumn of this year. The Governor has recommended that the next Chief
Secretary should be Sir Philip Haddon-Cave.
2.
His first colonial appoint- Sir Philip qualified as an economist. ment was as Statistician to the East Africa High Commission; he then served in the Treasury, Kenya, and had a short spell in the Seychelles as Acting Financial Secretary, for which he earned glowing reports. He transferred to Hong Kong in 1962 and served in various posts until
his appointment as Financial Secretary in 1971.
3. Sir Philip has been consistently described as an outstanding
officer of high intellectual capacity and sound political judgement
He is very articulate who is energetic, hardworking and thorough. and is a popular colleague, always managing to get the best out of his staff. He has been a successful if somewhat cautious Financial
Secretary, and has won international recognition.
is energetic and supports her husband well.
Lady Haddon-Cave
4. The Governor regards Sir Philip as the outstanding candidate.
Despite his concentration on finance, Sir Murray believes that his
forte is administration. This has been demonstrated when he has
acted as Chief Secretary. The Governor considers that over the years
Sir Philip has gained in political sensitivity (previously a weak
point).
5* The proposed appointment has been discussed with Mr Blaker,
who approves it.
/6.