XN000022-1974-05-24 — Page 5

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1974.

SIR DUNCAN WATSON TO VISIT HONG KONG

******

SIR DUNCAN WATSON, DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, IS DUE TO ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON SUNDAY, CHAY 26) FOR A TWO-WEEK VISIT.

HE WILL BE MET BY THE ADC TO THE GOVERNOR, MR. P.A. BARKLEY, AND THE DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL, BRIGADIER R.G. LEWTH- WAITE. SIR DUNCAN WILL STAY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

DURING HIS VISIT, THE DEPUTY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE WILL MEET SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND STUDY THE LOCAL SITUATION AT FIRST HAND.

HE IS ALSO TO HAVE TALKS WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND URBAN COUNCILS.

HE WILL RETURN TO LONDON ON JUNE 6.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES OF SIR DUNCAN WATSON:

SIR DUNCAN WAS APPOINTED DEPUTY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE IN 1972. HE FIRST JOINED THE COLONIAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE, OFFICER IN CYPRUS BETWEEN 1938-43. HE WAS ASSISTANT COLONIAL SECRETARY, TRINIDAD FROM 1943 TO 1945. IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, SIR DUNCAN WAS ON SECONDMENT TO THE COLONIAL OFFICE AS PRINCIPAL AND TRANSFERRED TO HOME CIVIL SERVICE IN 1947.

AMONG OTHER POSTS HE HAD SERVED WERE: PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY TO SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES, 1947-50- ASST. SECRETARY, COLONIAL OFFICE, 1950-62= CENTRAL AF. OFFICE, 1962-63- UNDER-SECRETARY, 1963 ASSISTANT UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, C.O. AND C.R.O., 1964-67- POLITICAL ADVISER TO C-IN-C FAR EAST, 1967-70- AND HIGH COMMISSIONER IN HALTA. 1970-72.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE BUDGET AND THE RESERVES

**

*

THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. DAVID JORDAN, TODAY GAVE A COMPREHENSIVE OUTLINE OF THE BACKGROUND TO THE 1974/75 BUDGET AND THE RESERVES IN A TALK TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH.

MR. JORDAN EXPLAINED AT LENGTH THE REASONS AND THINKING BEHIND THE ESTIMATES OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND REVENUE FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE NECESSITY FOR RAISING CERTAIN TAXES AND THE MAINTENANCE OF RESERVES, TO KEEP HONG KONG'S ECONOMY IN A HEALTHY CONDITION.

COPIES OF HIS TALK, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE G.I.S. PRESS ROOM, 6TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.

MR.