Sir J Coles
SECRET
нко огов
ology
FROM:
R A Burns
DATE:
3 February 1992
CC:
Mr Ricketts, HKD
3
NEW GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG: SUPPORT STAFF
1. Mr Ricketts produced a good first draft, which has now been amended to incorporate my comments.
2. If the next Governor does not come from the FCO, he will need the support of a Chinese speaking DS officer in Government House to manage his dialogue with London and to help him avoid becoming the pawn of the Hong Kong administration. There are three options:
i) a DS5 Assistant-Private Secretary to manage the paper flow;
ii) a DS4 Counsellor with a broader policy and coordinating remit probably the Political Adviser translated into Government House and relieved of most of his present duties (supported by a DS S2);
iii) a Senior Grade officer to provide strong policy back-up across the board (and of a grade to hold his own with the Chief Secretary), probably supported by a DS5 and an S2.
3. Options i) and ii) would raise little opposition in Hong Kong, though it might be prudent for HMG to pay the costs. Option iii) would arouse much speculation and antagonism, so it would be necessary to find someone with experience of Hong Kong, known and liked there, and able to work out an amicable relationship with the Chief Secretary and the senior Policy Secretaries.
4. In my view a Press Secretary and at least a DS5, both in Government House, should be a sine qua non for any new Governor, whether from the FCO or not.
5. We need to agree a game plan with the present Governor at a very early stage if we are to ensure that the very sensitive plans for hiding the security and intelligence role of the Political Adviser continue to be protected.
EM1ABB
Andrew Ran
R A Burns
SECRET