itself to study by other urban administrations; for whilst it may be no more than a coincidence, we have certainly started this scheme at a time when problems of communication and of the humanization of bureaucratic government are thrusting themselves before the reluctant public eye in many of the world's great cities.
120. I am wondering whether this report is not perhaps too buoyant, for this is a difficult balance sheet to cast. We have started well, in the sense that we have to some extent captured public interest and support at a time when it seems fashionable to decry the operations of the Govern- ment, and I can report with confidence that we have a project here which can inspire in promising young officers a high concept of public service and a willingness to devote themselves with vigour and energy and imagination to the task of realizing our objectives. On the other hand, it would be complacent to assume that we shall necessarily retain and develop these advantages unless we take great care of the need to supply adequate leadership and inspiration and support at every level. We have scarcely scratched the surface of the possible uses to which this machine can be put if we can get it running smoothly and sustain its impetus; but this is an organization which, if it were once allowed to flag, could easily become lifeless and indeed counter-productive, for although a good deal of hard-headed organization is needed we are dealing here in the last resort with the intangibles, the things of the mind and the spirit. "The moral is to the material as three is to one', and it is too early to guess what difficulties may emerge.
Secretariat FOR CHINESE Affairs, 24th January, 1969.
found
(D. R. HOLMES)
Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
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