CONFIDENTIAL
014437
MDHIAN 1593
CHIEF SECRETARY ON MY COURTESY CALLS. I HAD ARRANGED A WORKING LUNCH ON FRIDAY WITH LOCAL AND VISITING HOME OFFICE TEAMS TO TALK THROUGH THE WHOLE NATIONALITY/VISA PROGRAMME OF WORK, AND WILL TRY TO DO THAT BEFORE I GO.
OBJECTIVES
6.
THE DRAFT OBJECTIVES WERE GIVEN FIRST TO YOU ONLY, AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO HEADS OF JLG AND POLAD. I THINK WE ESTABLISHED (A) WE NEEDED A NEW OBJECTIVES QUICKLY AND (B) THE HIGH PROFILE POLICY HAD BEEN BURIED. I LOOK TO YOU AND THE TWO OTHERS FOR BOTH A GENERAL STEER AND ANY DETAILED COMMENTS BEFORE GOING OVER THEM WITH THE MINISTER FOR TRADE.
7. AS EXPLAINED IN MY COVERING MINUTE OF 22/6 I REGARD THESE AS THE ESSENTIAL BASIS FOR PLANNING THE NEW CONSULATE-GENERAL.
8. I HOPE HEADS OF RMD AND PUSD CAN BE INVOLVED IN THE MEETINGS AND THAT YOU CAN INVOLVE DTI. I HAVE GIVEN THEM NOTHING DIRECT BUT HAVE SOUGHT THEIR OPINION AND ADVICE (AS OF MANY COMMERCIAL INTERESTS) OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS. THE DRAFT OBJECTIVES ARE WRITTEN ESSENTIALLY AS A FORMULATION OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED TO ME, PARTICULARLY OF MY OWN STAFF.
9.
I
THERE IS A WIDESPREAD VIEW, CREATED BY THE HIGH PROFILE POLICY,
THAT THE POST OF SBTC HAS BEEN POLITICISED AND WILL GROW STEADILY IN POLITICAL IMPORTANCE IN THE YEARS AHEAD. THE POINT HAS BEEN MADE TO ME AT MANY MEETINGS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. HAVE SAID FIRMLY THAT THIS VIEW IS QUITE WRONG. MY JOB IS STRICTLY COMMERCIAL PLUS THE PREPARATIONS FOR STAFFING THE NEW CONSULATE-GENERAL: THERE CAN BE NO POLITICAL ARM OF HMG WHILE THERE IS A GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG/AND A JLG. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT WHICH MAY HAVE MISLED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOME CHINESE.
LEAVE
10. I HOPE LEAVES WILL NOT BE DISRUPTED, IF ONLY BECAUSE MY TRANSFER LEAVE WAS CANCELLED BY THE DEPARTMENT (FOR GOOD REASON) I AM KEEN TO SORT OUT THE WAY AHEAD AND TAKE MY WIFE FOR A LONG OVERDUE REST. I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO AGREE MY OWN LEAVE BID DURING THIS VISIT.
TUNIS