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LNMDAN 2224 HMLNAN 3169
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FM PON TO FCOLN
131115Z FEB
GRS 575
SECRET
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 419
OF 131115Z FEBRUARY 92
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD.
APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR OF AUDIT.
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TOP COPY
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO. 40(2)
FROM GOVERNOR.
IN
I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S APPROVAL FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. B.G. JENNEY AS DIRECTOR OF AUDIT, SUCCESSION TO MR. R.J. HUTT WHO RETIRES ON 5 MARCH 1992.
2. MR. JENNEY, AGED 56, SERVED IN TANZANIA FROM 1958 TO 1969, BEFORE JOINING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN DECEMBER 1969. HE WAS PROMOTED TO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE 'C' ON 1 APRIL 1974 AND APPOINTED TO THE DEPARTMENTAL POST OF PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN THE FINANCE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT ON 1 APRIL 1981. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SECRETARY ON 1 OCTOBER 1987.
3. MR. JENNEY HAS UNRIVALLED EXPERIENCE OF PUBLIC FINANCE., HAVING SERVED IN FINANCE BRANCH SINCE 1974. HIS EXPERT KNOWLEDGE OF GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL OPERATIONS, HIS BROAD CONSTRUCTIVE AND INTELLIGENT APPROACH TO WORK, AS WELL AS HIS POLITICAL KNOW-HOW, MAKE HIM AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE FOR THE POST OF DIRECTOR OF AUDIT.
4. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE, HOWEVER, THAT MR. JENNEY'S APPOINTMENT COULD ATTRACT SOME CONTROVERSY. THERE WILL BE SOME EXPECTATION IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE PRESENT DIRECTOR OF AUDIT WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY HIS DEPUTY, MR. LI YIU-KWONG. OUR COMMITMENT TO LOCALISATION MAY BE QUESTIONED.
MR. JENNEY'S APPOINTMENT WILL NOT PREVENT MR. LI'S PROMOTION IN DUE COURSE. MR. JENNEY IS 56 AND A CONTRACT OFFICER. MR. LI WAS 50 IN JANUARY AND WILL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION WELL BEFORE 1997.
5. WE MAY ALSO BE ACCUSED OF TRYING TO STIFLE THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE AUDIT DEPARTMENT BY APPOINTING AN OUTSIDER. IF SO, WE PROPOSE TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE:-
(A) THE POST IS ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT AND THERE IS NO QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE THE WORK OF THE AUDIT DEPARTMENT:
(B) MR. JENNEY'S EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL OPERATIONS MEANS THAT HE CAN MAKE A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE AUDIT DEPARTMENT: AND
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