TNAG-0107-FCO40-143-Official-visits-of-Members-of-Executive-and-Legislative-Coun-1969 — Page 43

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GOVERNMENT HOUSE

HONG KONG

PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL

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ARG March.

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Ive must try to book

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passages below

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20th February 1969

J

Dear Arthur

Thank you for your helpful

telegram No. 131 about Sir Cho-yiu Kwan.

I have to reply from what I know of him only, as I have thought it better to keep my letter of 4th February to myself: but I will give you what I can.

He is, as you know, a leading solicitor who did his Articles in London. He is highly intelligent and hard-working. His English is good, but he seems sometimes not quite sure of it, which tends to make him a little voluble and repetitive in discussion. As the senior Chinese Unofficial Member on Executive Council, he is outspoken and critical when he feels it necessary: but never tendentious or destructive in his criticism. His suggestions are uniformly intended to be helpful and constructive, and he frequently comes out with very good points in discussion which have escaped others.

He has never failed to take on any

and he

duties Government has asked him to take on; takes his responsibilities to the Government and to Hong Kong very seriously. He can dig his toes in sometimes of course; but on the whole he has been an immense help to me.

As senior Chinese Unofficial Member during 1967, he was under considerable strain, but he remained staunch and helpful both in public and particularly perhaps behind the scenes: for he is not a man who pushes himself forward into the public eye more than he can help.

You may remember also that he played

a useful and constructive part in the discussions I had with Council members during the 1966 Defence Contribution

talks, persuading them to accept and put forward a formula which proved acceptable to the Secretary of State.

He is usually a rather serious little man, but can be amusing when he unbends. He has no particular hobbies or interests outside his work (and a weekly game of mah-jongg!) that I know of.

I'm afraid this is not much, but I

hope it is some help.

14

22

Что

Sir Arthur Galsworthy, K.C.M.G.

Yuus ever

David

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