FINANCE
CONFIDENTIAL
7. A further point on which an early decision must be taken is the
financing of the Monitoring team.
The paper on the test of
acceptability considered by Ministers simply stated that the team
would be appointed by HMG or by the Governor. On reflection I think
it is self evident that HMG should appoint the monitoring team if it
is to have any credibility at all as a check on the work of the
assessment office. It follows from this that the monitors should be
paid by HMG rather than by the Hong Kong government, and I so
recommend.
✓ receive the
,
8. I attach a preliminary note on the financial implications of
this. I have taken as
as my starting point that the individual who is
proposed as the Hong Kong monitor is a Hong Kong Justice of Appeal;
that he can scarcely be paid less than his salary during the period
in which he is acting as a monitor; and that the two monitors must
two
same fee. This me ans that we shall be paying rather
more than the going rate paid in the past to individuals in similar
posts (e.g the observors of the El Salvador election), and that
Treasury approval will be necessary. The figures, which in the case
of the UK based monitor includes air travel, subsistence and
accomodation, are explained in more detail in the attached paper.
They have been put together rather rapidly and for the moment must
be regarded as provisional. Our initial impression is that the
subsistence and accommodation figures, which have been suggested by
the Hong Kong Government, are more generous than necessary. We
shall be pursuing this further with Hong Kong.
9.
If the Secretary of State can agree in principle that HMG should appoint and pay the monitors we shall pursue the financial aspect in
more detail with Finance Department.
3 August 1984
Theran
A C Galsworthy
Hong Kong Department
CONFIDENTIAL