35
CONFIDENTIAL
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
27 September 1991
M
布政司署
香港下亞厘畢道
DIEU
**Our Ref: HKB 06/1
本署檔號
來函檔號 Your Ref.:
Nigel Cox Esa
Hong Kong Department
FCO
Jean rigel
Ама
catu Pigott, PPD
a
We spoice. Grateful & PPD views (even
drag reply, to which we cd add points Political aspects)
M
Z.
fi
m
ممم
17/x.
PERSONAL
(Letter sent)
Pa
m
19/11
I wonder if I could try out on you a small idea which has not, as far as I am aware, been considered in the context of the Nationality Act, or elsewhere: that is the possibility of the FCO acquiring the talents of one or two of my HKG colleagues, should they wish to continue in their present allegiance post-1997.
Quite a number of HKG civil servants do not contemplate
Some the future with their minds at ease, to put it mildly. just worry about the practicalities, but others find the prospect of transferring loyalty unattractive or even unacceptable. A number at least will leave because of this.
Could we not offer a few of them the prospect of alternative employment in the FCO? There are some very competent and experienced people here; and I find the idea of some Chinese faces in the FCO an appealing one. Obviously some form of entrance examination would be necessary: and in fact I
only envisage a handful at most applying, let alone succeeding.
It may well be the politics vis à vis the Chinese would veto this: or indeed FCO staff side politics. But I should be interested to know what you think.
Your
ww
Shyphen
S E Bradley)
Deputy Political Adviser
CONFIDENTIAL