Peter F Ricketts Esq
Hong Kong Department FCO
CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
@
HKB (2/3
Office of the
British Senior Representative
Sino-British Joint Liaison Group
30 January 1992
Mr Star 613 Mr FARNESS
Ba
Dear Peter,
HENRY KESWICK
6/
1. I had breakfast with Henry Keswick on 29 January. Although you are no doubt in regular touch with him, you may find it helpful to have a note of what appears to be currently on his mind:
(a) the Jardines listing saga appears not to be going well at the moment (surprising, because Martin Barrow told me the opposite only a week or so ago). Keswick says that Sir D Wilson has "welshed" on an earlier undertaking to resolve the matter. The Governor is also being unhelpful over Jardines Flemings' application for a banking licence.
(b)
Keswick claims to know nothing about the background to the Governor's "retirement", nor about his likely successor (is this true?) He is aware that the FCO is in the dark too. He believes Sir D Wilson precipitated an announcement by insisting that his position be clarified - ie, he overplayed his hand. Keswick is worried that Sir C Powell may be asked to be the next Governor, although Sir C Powell has assured him that he would not accept the job. While Keswick's preference would be for a politician, he believes that the job may yet go to an FCO official (though not to a sinologist).
(c) Keswick advocates the early localisation of all the senior posts in the Hong Kong Government, including that of Chief Secretary. The expatriates, including Sir D Wilson, Sir D Ford, Barrie Wiggham and Leo Goodstadt are all "Fabians"! However, Keswick says he finds John Chan, the leading local officer whom he has just met for lunch, rather grey and ordinary.
т
Rather
agree
but
what
(a) He is very upbeat about Hong Kong's economic prospects what and the relationship with China.
me?
/ (e)
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CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL