(A
57.
35
Action is long overdue on No. (47). For some considerable time this file was attached to the personal file that has now been opened for Mr. Heathcote-Smith.
The letter at (47) raises two points, namely (a) whether the post of Political Adviser should revert to the Colonial Service on the completion of Healthcote- Smith's tour, and (b) what arrangements are to be made to ensure closer liaison between Hong Kong and the British Embassy and Consulate staff in China.
on
On the first of these points, it was Sir Mark Young's original recommendation (see paragraph 11 (b) of No. (16)) that the post should revert to the Colonial Service in three years' time. The Foreign Office, however, seem to have had their doubts about the wisdom of this course. No. (47) expresses the opinion that we should defer taking a decision on the question for a year. Since this letter was written, however, we have had to ask
Hong Kong to declare the post of Political Adviser pensionable, and this they have agreed to do the express understanding that it will be filled by a Colonial Service officer on the termination of Heathcote-Smith's appointment. Even so, we would not be precluded from reopening the question should it appear desirable so to do nearer the time when we shall have to make a second appointment to this post. Meanwhile, I suggest we should seek Foreign Office agreement to the proposals in No. (47) for training a successor to Mr. Heathcote-Smith, since even if the officer so trained were not eventually appointed as Political Adviser (though there is no reason at all to suppose he would not be given this appointment, if he were in every way satisfactory), the training he would receive at Nanking would no doubt be of value in other ways in Hong Kong.
I agree that we should press the Foreign Office to provide free quarters for the Hong Kong trainee at Nanking, but I am not so sure on what grounds we could ask the Foreign Office to pay him the local cost of living allowance. There is, of
no harm in asking them to do so.
course,
The proposal that arrangements should be made for Hong Kong officers to accompany the Consul General, Canton, or his Consuls on their tours to outlying parts of their province is a perfectly reasonable one, and does not call for any particular comment.
I suggest we write to the Foreign Office as
in draft opposite.
Anṛalsumiy
12.7.47
Lott
To Swett (40)
cors
14
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