57
Political Adviser a pensionable post on the Hong Kong. Establishment, to enable Heathcote-Яmith to be appt 1 to it on temporary transfer rather than secondment terms (I am writing to you separately about this) and Hong Kong agreed to this course on the understanding that the post would, in fact, revert to the Colonial Service on the termination of Heathcote-Smith's appointment.
Should it appear necessary in the light of experience to re-open this question before a further appointment is made, we could, of course, still do so, appointment is made although we see no real reason why this should be necessary, provided that satisfactory arrangements can be made to give Hong Kong Cadets the further training and experience that they would require to fit them in every way for the Job. A recent letter from Hong Kong contained, in this connection, the following suggestion: "We have several promising men eager to train for the job (1.0. that of Political Adviser) and I am glad to see from Sir Ralph Stevenson's telegram No.104 to the Foreign Office that he agrees to the proposal that Colonial Service Officers should be attached to the Embassy as part of their training. Now that the Foreign Office appear likely to agree in principle to this recommendation I assume that you would have no objection to direct discussion between us and the Nanking Embassy with a view to sending an officer to Nanking as soon as he can be spared, The officer will probably be of 10 or 12 years' seniority and we suggest that he might be usefully attached to the Chinese Counsellor. We should pay his ordinary Hong Kong salary and hope that Nanking will provide free quarters and the local cost of living allowances.
I hope you will agree to our informing MacDougall in reply that we shall be very glad if he will enter
into
Page 60Page 61
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.