TNAG-0428-FCO40-493-Appointments-of-senior-officers-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 24

SECRET

Reference......IIKK...1...3..........

Mr Huttly (Security Dept M 402)

SENIOR CHINESE OFFICERS IN HONG KONG:

1.

SECURITY

The Hong Kong Government have been considering the long-term security problems which might arise as increasing numbers of Chinese officers qualify for the highest posts in public service. Although Hong Kong are instituting a system of positive vetting, they consider that:

(A)

(B)

there are a number of posts which must continue to be filled by UK officers, and

there are a few others which ought to be filled by UK officers.

These posts are listed in the annex to the Colonial Secretary's letter of 17 August addressed to Mr Stuart. You will see from the letter itself (paragraph 7) that List B is sub-divided into two categories.

2. The Colonial Secretary says that Hong Kong have been relieved to find that the problem is more manageable than they earlier feared. However, he gives little indication of the criteria adopted by Hong Kong in drawing up the Lists. We wonder whether they are adequate. (For example, it perhaps might be argued that the post of Deputy Secretary for Security (Operations) should be in List A rather than List B.)

3. We should be glad to discuss this with you if you wish. In any case, we should be very grateful if you would initiate whatever enquiries you think are necessary, here or in Hong Kong, in order to decide whether we should suggest any changes to these Lists as proposed.

4. There is obviously no immediate urgency. But Mr Stuart would like to reply to the Colonial Secretary'B letter: if we were going to make any significant comments, we should prefer to avoid undue delay.

29 August 1974

B H Dinwiddy

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept K 245 MA 632

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