CONFIDENTIAL
quickly. On the other hand, we can hardly terminate the leases of the buildings until we have made arrangements for the disposal of their contents. In any case, a public announcement of the closure might well spark off the Macao Communists to take physical action against the buildings, and we could not expect the Portuguese to prevent them being sacked. We suggest therefore that a decision now be taken to close the Consulate formally as from either 15 July or 1 August, and that the staff be paid off from the selected date, but that no announcement of the closure should at present be made, nor should the leases yet be terminated.
5. It is plainly important not to do anything which would give the Communists in Macao a plausible stick with which to beat us. We therefore recommend strongly that the terms of severance for the locally engaged staff should be generous. One of the present members who was on the staff when the Consulate closed in 1948 was then given two months' salary for every year of service. This would appear to be on the right lines with perhaps slightly less for those who have been in service for only two or three years.
In any case we think that the staff should continue to receive subsistence in Hong Kong until the formal closure of the Consulate. (We should be grateful for immediate authority to continue paying this allowance.) All the staff have indicated that they would like to be re-employed by the Hong Kong Government if possible. We are already investigating chances of this but it may prove difficult in some cases, given ages and qualifications of the people concerned.
(Passed as requested)
Distribution
H.K. WID 'C' I.G.Do
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
Copies also sent to:-
Diplomatic Service
Foreign Office
Administration Office
#
!!
11
11
F.E. Registry
Security Dept. Accommodation Dept.
??
Personnel Dept.
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.