TNAG-0363-FCO40-409-Appointments-of-senior-officers-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 83

Reference

Hong Kons Standard

STANDARD 9.2.73

Old

China

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tipped

DIPLOMAT FOR SIR HUGH'S POST

A SENIOR official of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office will become Hongkong's next colonial secretary when Sir Hugh Norman-Walker retires by the end of this year, reliable sources said last night.

It was revealed that Mr K.M. Wilford and Mr Anthony Elliot - both professional diplomats top a short list of names now under close scrutiny of Whitehall.

Both men, now in their early 50s, had worked here and in Peking, and are known to take keen interest in Hongkong and China affairs.

Mr Wilford long-time friend Governor, Sir MacLehose

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assistant under-secretary in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, fle worked in the British mission in Peking and was with the Hongkong Government in the early

60s.

by

P. Viswa Nathan

Last November, when the British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Anthony Royle, visited. Hongkong, Mr Wilford was present throughout the tour.

Earlier in June, he was on a trip to Peking with Mr Roylc as the minister's chief political aide.

Mr Elliot was political adviser in Hongkong during 1965-68. He is now the head of chancery in Washington.

Described as a China expert,

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Mr Elliot also served in Peking with the British mission in the late 60s.

A combination of factors appear to have brought up the two names for consideration as the next colonial secretary,

A keynote of the present Government policy is to bring new blood into middle and senior administrative levels.

This need has increased with the Information Secretary Jack Cater's decision to leave the Government, and with the impending transfer of Home Affairs Secretary Donald Luddington as the resident administrator of the Solomon Islands.

It was once considered a possibility that either Mr Cater or Mr Luddington might

succeed Sir Hugh.

But now that they are not on the scene, the Government's attention has turned to Foreign and Commonwealth officials with deep knowledge of Hongkong and China,

Another important aspect is the growing realisation here and in London that in the coming years Hongkong wit emerge as a vital factor in Sino-British relations. It is; therefore, accepted that a man with political training, rather than A professional civil servant, will be # morg. oppropriate choice for powerful job.

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Sources said that A final decision will be taken on the matter fairly Soon and an announcement will be made around the middle of this year.

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