CO129-611-2 Liaison with British Embassy and consulates in China- appointment of political advisor 1-9-1945 - 20-10-1947 — Page 162

EXTRACT FROM A LETTER DATED 7th JANUARY, 1946

FROM MR. KITSON TO SIR E. GENT

A

159

On the question of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, we are in agreement with Keswick's suggestion that the Colonial Government might with advantage concern itself more with external, i.e. Chinese, affairs. We also agree that a Foreign Service Orficer with China experience should be appointed to serve in Hong Kong for this purpose.

We feel however that

such an officer should have a status independent of the Secretary of Chinese Affairs, that is to say instead of there bening a "Secretary for Chinese and External Affairs", to whose department the Embassy representative would be attached, there should be a Secretary for Chinese Affairs and a Secretary for External Affairs, the latter being a Foreign Service officer, who would be responsible direct to the Governor and also to the Ambassador, reporting to and corresponding with each as the occasion required.

*

#