CO129-611-2 Liaison with British Embassy and consulates in China- appointment of political advisor 1-9-1945 - 20-10-1947 — Page 12

16.

Jo. Hong Kong bonf. Despatch

12 15-11-4b

Sir Mark Young's despatch follows closely the personal view he expressed in his letter to Mr. Lloyd at 5. He recommends, as a temporary measure the appointment of a permanent member of the Foreign Service with experience of China and that this officer should be independent of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and be responsible directly to the Governor. This is in opposition to the view expressed at X in paragraph 4 of our despatch but in line with the Foreign Office recommendation at 1A. It has been suggested that the appointment of a specialist Foreign Service officer might discourage individual officers of the Hong Kong Service from themselves becoming acquainted with Chinese affairs outside the Colony, but this hardly seems to arise in the case of the very temporary appointment which the Governor recommends. Equally I imagine that there would be a better chance of obtaining a more experienced Foreign Service officer if he were to report direct to the Governor and not come under the S.C.A. It is clearly of the utmost importance that the S.C.A. should himself be fully informed on "the Chinese scène" but as a temporary measure I think we should agree to the Governor's recommendation. In any case it is clear from (c) of paragraph 11 of his despatch, in which it is recommended that officers both of the Cadet Service and of other departments should be enabled and encouraged to maintain contact with Chinese affairs, that Sir Mark Young does not propose to rely only on the appointment of a specialist in achieving the ends in view.

The appointment of a Foreign Service officer with knowledge of China should be particularly valuable during the next year or so when the question of the future of Hong Kong is likely, in any event, to be one of delicacy in our relations with China. Much will depend, however, on the right choice of a suitable officer.)

I have, therefore, put up a draft semi-official letter to Mr. Dening for Mr. Lloyd's signature as well as an official letter to the Foreign Office enclosing a copy of 16 asking whether a suitable officer can be made available.

Arbent

?

31.12.46.

Sir T. Lloyd

I agree that we should support and press Sir Mark Young's proposal, summarised in paragraph 11(a) for the secondment to Hong Kong for a period of three years of an officer of the Foreign Service with experience of China to serve in the Government of Hong Kong as a political adviser on all questions relating to Chinese affairs external to the Colony.

As regards his second recommendation, in paragraph 11(b), to take all possible steps to

prepare