PS/Lord Caithness
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM:
R A Burns
DATE:
28 January 1992
CC:
Sir J Coles
PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL OF SENIOR APPOINTMENTS IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
1. I have slightly amended the terms of the draft telegram, which should ensure that the Hong Kong Government consult us more fully before future appointments are made, but does not criticise them for procedures so far. I have considered whether to give the telegram a sharper tone, but the fact is that we have in the past acquiesced in a looser practice, and the change is one which we are now proposing. Although the Hong Kong Government should have paid closer attention to the terms of the Secretary of State's letter of 3 June, I think the Governor could legitimately claim that he did not know that we intended to tighten up the procedures and consciously decide to approve the appointment of Policy Secretaires in advance. I see no point in provoking a row. We cannot undo the appointments that have already been made. The important thing is to sort out the procedures for the future.
Andrew Rwan
RA Burns
EM1AAC
CONFIDENTIAL