Chief Clerk
PS/PUS
CONFIDENTIAL & MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE
FROM: CO Hum
M
M GX
CC:
Mr Morris
DATE: 10 July 1992
PS/Mr Goodlad Sir J Coles
Mr Bertram, OED Mr Ricketts, HKD
10/7
NEW CONSULATE-GENERAL IN HONG KONG
1. I agree with the recommendation in Mr Ricketts' submission of 9 July, which reflects discussion at a meeting chaired by the Chief Clerk.
2. A further reason for bringing Mr Day back for early consultations is the need to minimise the damage which could be caused in Hong Kong. Reading between the lines of Mr Day's communications, it is clear that he is expressing very freely his (erroneous) contention that HMG are going ahead with the construction of a building without giving proper thought to the purposes for which it will be used: no doubt he is also inviting his interlocutors to agree with him.
Here too
3. When Mr Day is back in London I shall need to spend some time discussing his objectives with him. The paper which he gave me in Hong Kong, which he implies sets out his case on the Consulate-General, was in fact a series of reflections on his objectives and the management of the Trade Commission. he is taking as his starting point a reversal of his predecessor's approach. It is healthy that a new incumbent should scrutinise the objectives and practices which he has inherited, but Mr Day is in danger of going too far. If we can reach a common view on his objectives this should help to reconcile him to our intentions over the Consulate-General building.
са
CO Hum
CONFIDENTIAL & MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE
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