CO129-611-2 Liaison with British Embassy and consulates in China- appointment of political advisor 1-9-1945 - 20-10-1947 — Page 26

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Mr. Seel (through Mr. Bennett)

I understand that Mr. Heathcote-Smith's present grading is that of Vice-Consul but that he expects to be promoted to consular rank very shortly. According to the Foreign Office List he was first appointed a Vice-Consul on probation in 1936 and confirmed in 1939. He served in China from 1936-1945, with the exception of a spell of duty in Teheran in 1942 and acted as a Consul at Kweilin from 1933-1945. He has served in the Foreign Office since 1945 and is at present a member of the United Nations Department.

I have never met Mr. Heathcote-Smith, but Mr. Bennett has come into contact with him a good deal during the last eighteen months and has very kindly agreed to record his opinion of Mr. Heathcote-Smith's qualifications for the job of Political Liaison Officer to Hong Kong. I gather from Mr. Bennett that the Secretary of State had some contact with Mr. Heathcote-Smith when, as Parliamentary Under-Secretary, he represented H. M. G. before the Trusteeship Committee of the United Nations.

Subject to what Mr. Bennett may say as to Mr. Heathcote-Smith's qualifications, I am just a little doubtful whether he carries the necessary seniority in the Foreign Service for the post of Political Liaison Officer. The Officer holding this post is to be independent of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and responsible directly to the Governor and should, I imagine, have a status similar to that of the Heads of Departments in the Hong Kong Service. It is true that the Governor envisages the appointment of a Hong Kong Cadet Officer to this post of Liaison Officer after the first three years and the inclusion of that post within the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs. But we propose to defer consideration of this particular recommendation until experience has been gained of the arrangements under which the post is filled by a seconded Foreign Service Officer. I, personally, feel that there is a strong case for keeping this post independent of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, and giving the holder of it the status of the Head of a Department.

I think we should in any case consult the Governor before any definite appointment is made, and if my doubts as to whether Mr. Heathcote-Smith Dis sufficiently senior for this job are shared, they might be mentioned in the telegram to the Governor which, I suggest, should take the form of a personal message from Sir Thomas Lloyd to Sir Mark Young. Alternatively, the point might be raised with Sir Orme Sargent now, with an intimation that we shall, of course, have to consult the Governor, and if he (Sir Orme Sargent) feels there are grounds for our doubts, perhaps he would consider whether he could put forward

a further name in addition to that of Mr. Heathcote-Smith

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