SECRET
I think that the Governor will find the new paragraphs 11 and 12 helpful. They are, of course, pure dynamite: if Mr Haddon-Cave should ever get a whiff of them, he might well resign on the spot. But I don't doubt that the Governor will be very well aware of their extreme sensitivity.
2. There is in my view a trip-wire lying close under the surface of paragraph 11. Naturally whoever does the survey must have free and frank discussions with the Governor; and he must do the same with the Financial Secretary and many others. He will not necessarily agree with the Governor, or with Mr Haddon-Cave. So far as is possible, I feel sure that he must avoid taking sides on issues coming up for decision whilst he is preparing his report. No-one will sniff out his, as it might seem, "interference" more quickly than Mr Haddon- Cave. To push the trip wire a little further down, I suggest that the third sentence might be reworded....."privately about the longer term |x financial and economic problems which face Hong Kong. And perhaps there is a case for a final sentence reading something like "He would also, of course, need to have free and frank discussions with a fairly wide range of people inside and outside Government; and would not I feel sure wish to compromise his position by becoming involved in particular decisions on financial and economic matters."
11
11
27 September 1974
C.C.
Sir D Watson
Si D. Watson
12 Hollands suggestions at x|
sensible to mo
ACS
27/9
SECRET
D G Holland
and y/
seem
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