CONFIDENTIAL STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
170467
MDHOAN 4114
ME BUT YOUR VIEWS WOULD BE MOST WELCOME.
(B)
MIFT
IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT DINHAM WOULD GET MORE FAVOURABLE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IF HE WAS ON THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHMENT THAN IF HE WERE PAID BY HMG. SETS OUT HIS CURRENT TERMS. MR PATTEN WOULD WISH DINHAM, IF APPOINTED, TO APPEAR TO BE AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE DIPLOMATIC ADVISER (WHO IS LIKELY TO BE A SENIOR GRADE MEMBER OF THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE). WHAT TERMS COULD HE BE OFFERED IF HE WERE
ON THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHMENT? HE IS AGED 41 / MARRIED WITH A SON BORN IN 1985 AND A DAUGHTER BORN IN 1989.
HIS CV IS IN MIFT.
(C)
MR PATTEN IS MOST CONCERNED TO AVOID A DAMAGING DEBATE IN THE LEGCO FINANCE COMMITTEE. WE, OF COURSE, UNDERSTAND THAT A DECISION BY THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE NEEDED IF DINHAM WERE TO BECOME AN EMPLOYEE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. DO YOU THINK THE APPOINTMENT WOULD GO THROUGH WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTY OR EMBARRASSMENT?
(D)
SIMILAR CONSIDERATIONS ARISE WITH LLEWELLYN. HE IS 26 YEARS OLD AND UNMARRIED. HE WOULD CLEARLY BE CONSIDERABLY MORE JUNIOR THAN THE OTHER TWO APPOINTEES. HE SHOULD PROBABLY BE REGARDED AS THE EQUIVALENT OF A PRINCIPAL IN THE HOME CIVIL SERVICE. HIS PRESENT SALARY IS POS STG 22,360. COULD YOU ADVISE ON APPROPRIATE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND ALSO COMMENT ON WHETHER THIS APPOINTMENT WOULD BE LIKELY TO RUN INTO DIFFICULTY IN
LEGCO?
5.
YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT MR PATTEN DOES NOT WANT THESE APPOINTMENTS TO BE GIVEN ANY PUBLICITY UNTIL HE DECIDES THAT THE RIGHT MOMENT HAS COME. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE MOST GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD RESTRICT THE CIRCULATION OF THIS TELEGRAM TO THOSE WHOM YOU NEED TO CONSULT AND IMPRESS ON THEM THE NEED FOR STRICT CONFIDENCE.
6.
IT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP TO HAVE AN EARLY REPLY, IF POSSIBLE BY 0900 LONDON TIME ON MONDAY 11 MAY.
HURD
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CONFIDENTIAL STAFF IN CONFIDENCE