CO129-611-2 Liaison with British Embassy and consulates in China- appointment of political advisor 1-9-1945 - 20-10-1947 — Page 78

Saving.

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From the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

To the Officer Administering the Government of..

Date March, 1947.

No...Saving. CONFIDENTIAL

IMPORTANT

HONG KON

37

75

1. Your despatch No.20 of 24th January. Secretary for Chinese Affairs. Before considering further recommendation for promotion of lir.K.R.Todd to this post, I should be glad of your views on its future statue in the light of the decision to appoint a Political Adviser.

2. In paragraph 9 of your Confidential despatch of 15th November 1946 you have suggested that the post of Political Adviser, when permanently established, should come within the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, but that meanwhile, if a Foreign Service Officer is seconded to Hong Kong for a few years, he should be independent of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and directly responsible to yourself.

3. It has been sug ested that the Chinese in Hong Kong may tend to approach the Political Adviser direct and the office of Secretary for Chinese Affairs would suffer a decline in the eyes of the local population. On the other hand, I note from your despatch No.21 of 31st January on the subject of a Social Welfare Department in Hong Kong the importance which you attach to the Secretariat in securing Chinose co-operation in any new branch of Governmental activity and the undesirability of any

abrupt