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in Hong Kong, the Chinese representative and at least some of the other members of the Chinese side will no doubt be resident in Hong Kong. The workload of the Group will gradually increase. handle the more sustained mode of consultation which will almost certainly evolve and to match the Chinese presence it will be necessary for at least certain members of the British side to be resident in Hong Kong as well. The exact configuration will depend on the development of the Group's work over the first 3 years.
24. A possible line up for the British side might then involve replacing the AUSS (Asia) as delegation Leader by a resident British representative of ambassadorial rank, belonging to the senior grades in the FCO. He would also have resident supporting staff (see below). An alternative possibility would be for the Political Adviser to become delegation Leader. It is however not clear whether this could be reconciled with his responsibilities to the Governor of Hong Kong. The Chinese could well choose to consider him as a representative of Hong Kong rather than British interests. They might insist that their representative in the territory should have a clear counterpart, answerable directly to London and divorced from the Local administration.
(d) SUPPORTING STAFF
25. During the peripatetic phase of the Group's existence most supporting staff for the British side can be provided Locally t the venue of each of the Group's meetings. In the FCO the Future Section of Hong Kong Department will handle work connected with the Group and provide supporting staff for meetings in London. In the Embassy in Peking it is expected that the Counsellor (Political) will be the most closely associated with the work of the Group. The Embassy should be able to provide the necessary supporting services during meetings of the Group in Peking, except that some reinforcement of the secretarial staff may be necessary. In Hong Kong Hong Kong to complete]. It will be essential for the British delegation at meetings of the Group and sub-groups to be assisted by a Hong Kong Government interpreter.
26. After 1 July 1988 the resident British representative
in
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