.
CODE 18-77
SS 8/78
Mr Williamson
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE.
MKA 4311393/7
Reference...) NO SI
30 APR 1981
15
OFSCER
PA
STRY
Teken
BBR
аг
MR ORR'S SUCCESSOR IN HONG KONG
1.
2.
1
As you know, Mr Margolis (Paris) is to succeed Mr Orr.
I understand from Mr Margolis that he will leave Paris on or about 22 June, with a view to arriving in Hong Kong on 22 July. He will be available for briefing between these dates, although he will need a certain amount of time for leave and personal matters. I suggest that his briefing should begin on 25 June and should take between 10-12 days. He will need to spend some time file reading in FED and HKGD. Other departments which he should see are PUSD, MAED, MVD, SEAD, UND, CRD, ECD(E) and PCD.
3. He will also need some general briefing from other Whitehall departments e.g. CRE4, DOI and MOD. It would be a good idea for him to make his number with the two banks and, possibly, the major trading houses. Unless FED see objections, Mr Margolis could usefully make an informal call on the Chinese Embassy. He should also get to know the Hong Kong Government Office and perhaps have half or even a full day there so that he understands and appreciates what their function is here.
4.
Mr Orr has spent a good deal of his time on the Vietnamese refugee problem and is, I believe, the Hong Kong Government's main link with the UNHCR. I suggest, therefore, that Mr Margolis make a brief visit to Geneva in order to talk to UKMIS Geneva and the UNHCR head quarters. I should be grateful if POD could seek the financial authority for this. Mr Margolis should make the trip either before he leaves Paris, or, more likely, London. It would
not be practicable for him to go to Geneva en route for Hong Kong as he will be accompanied by his small children.
5. I am writing to Mr Orr to see if he has any further suggestions to make but, in the meantime, I should be grateful if your section could start drawing up a programme.
29 April 1981
cc:
Mr McLaren FED Mr Patterson
POD
1. Meir
P Morrice
Hong Kong and General Department
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE