TNAG-0223-FCO40-259-Appointment-of-financial-secretary-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 21

CONFIDENTIAL

Hong Kong - Visit of Philip Haddon-Cave

6.11.70.

30/2

For historical reasons there is no likelihood of Hong Kong

achieving independence; there has been little or no political development

and the Government and Administration of the Colony have remained fixed

in the old Colonial pattern, with the main functions being carried out by

a (largely expatriate) corps of Civil Servants, assisted, where necessar

by local worthies nominated by the Administration and acting in an

unofficial capacity.

The Governor, who is appointed by the Queen, presides over

meetings of the Executive Council, whose advice he must seek on important

policy matters. He is also President of the Legislative Council and

his assent is required before any bills it passes can become law.

Membership of both the Executive Council and Legislative Council is

confined to nominated and ex officio members and there are no elected

members.

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The senior members of the Administration are the Colonial

longer! Secretary, the Financial Secretary and the Secretary for Chinese Affairs:

lower down the scale department officials usually work with the assistance

of Advisory Councils, which are normally chaired by the official concerned

and include a preponderance of non-official members, so that the

Administration is able to test public reaction to proposed measures,

Haddon-Cave felt that this system had served Hong Kong well,

though he admitted that there was a need for closer and more continuous

contacts between the top Civil Servants there are no regular "Cabinet"

meetings, and no central secretariat. He also felt that although the

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principle of avoiding unnecessary government expenditure was admirable in

itself, Hong Kong was in some danger of developing a shoe-string mentality

Turning to the working of the Financial Secretariat, Haddon-

Cave considered that there was room for improvement in the present set-up

The Financial Secretary had two senior officials under him, the Deputy

Financial Secretary and the Deputy Economic Secretary, each responsible

for a number of departments.

The duties of the Deputy Financial

Secretary were fairly clear cut, and this side functioned pretty well.