CONFIDENTIAL PERSONAL
031662
MDTTAN 1628
IN
COMMISSION, WHICH HAS ALREADY TAKEN OVER MOST OF THE ROUTINE INFORMATION WORK PREVIOUSLY HANDLED BY GIS ON BEHALF OF HMG. THAT CONNECTION, PETER HEAP MIGHT BE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ON A SLIGHTLY HIGHER PROFILE, WIDENING THE SUBJECT MATTER OF HIS SPEECHES AND INTERVIEWS TO INCLUDE NON-TRADE QUESTIONS WHERE IN
HIS AND OUR JUDGEMENT THAT SEEMS RIGHT. HE WOULD OF COURSE NEED
TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOU OR THE POLITICAL ADVISER TO ENSURE THAT YOU WERE AWARE OF WHAT HE WAS DOING. THERE WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE
POLITICAL SENSITIVITIES TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT THE MODEST EXPANSION OF PETER HEAP'S ROLE WHICH I HAVE
OUTLINED WOULD NOT GIVE RISE TO SUSPICIONS THAT WE WERE INTENT ON CONVERTING THE SBTC INTO A KESWICK-STYLE COMMISSIONER WITH
SWEEPING POWERS.
5. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EARLY COMMENTS ON THESE IDEAS.
YOU MAY BE TEMPTED TO SAY THAT THE BEST SOLUTION WOULD BE FOR HMG
TO ADJUST THEIR POLICIES TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SITUATION IN HONG KONG. I HAVE MUCH SYMPATHY WITH THAT APPROACH
BUT I THINK WE MUST ACCEPT THAT THERE WILL BE A CONTINUING GAP
BETWEEN WHAT HONG KONG PEOPLE WANT AND WHAT IS POSSIBLE
POLITICALLY IN THE UK.
SIGNED: ROBIN MCLAREN
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