TNAG-0211-FCO40-247-Reorganisation-of-Hong-Kong-Government-Office-in-London-1969 — Page 52

Mr. Gaminara

The points marked x and z of the record of discussions with the Governor (/1) were for the department to pursue.

2. x is covered by Mr. Beattie's minute

above.

3. I have looked at the Inspector's report on allowances at Hong Kong and I have spaken to Mr. Lyall af E and 0 Department and Mr. Melhuish of Personnel Department. It seems clear that the only way to obtain full and authentic information on what priveliges the United Kingdom Trade Commissioner receives is to write to him direct. The required information just does not seem available in the office.

Norman A. Smith

群

N.A.SMITH

25 November 1968

Reference HKK 25/1

Mr. Russell (Consul Department, Room 604,Clive House)

I mentioned to you over the telephone that we were in the middle of an exercise concerned with the reorganisation of the Hong Kong Government Office in London. The point at issue relates to the question of Consular privileges for the Head of the reorganised office. We have had considerable correspondence with the former Commonwealth Policy and Planning Department over this matter. background is given at (25) on HWB 3/20, with particular reference to paragraph 9 thereof. should also see Sir John Johnston's Minute at (8); Mr. Cox's Minute at (18), Mr. Carter's letter to the Governor at (21) and Mr. Mathias's Minute

The

You

(paragraph III) at (23), all of which are on the same file. This matter was recently the discussed with the Governor of Hong Kong, who is at present in this country on leave, and the record of the conclusions made at those discussions is at (1) on this file.

2.

We have been unable to find out postively whether the United Kingdom Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong is accorded by the Hong Kong Government any Consular privileges, but the general conclusion is that he is not. We have also been Gironde without much success, to find out (as a possible guide) whether the United Kingdom Trade Commissioner in the Bahamas is accorded any such privileges. But although both the Bahamas and Hong Kong are dependent territories, the fact that the Bahamas have full internal self-Government (as opposed to Hong Kong where the old type Crown Colony status is still in force) seems to cast some doubt on the validity of any precedent afforded by the position in the Bahamas.

/I understood