7447 D073840 101M 8/74 Cr.P.C. 839/3
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United Kingdom e.g. trade in the EEC context. is clearly right since the Hong Kong Government would otherwise lose all credibility in Hong Kong. But in general, the policy implies greater direction from London and greater accountability from Hong Kong. It follows that the Department dealing with Hong Kong affairs here will need to be much strengthened. Its members would need to be in much closer touch with Hong Kong officials to develop a working relationship which by now has almost ceased to exist. The Hong Kong administration should also be required to report more frequently to ensure that proposed policies are in line with current thinking in the Office and that agreed policies are in fact carried out. Apart from a constant flow of
correspondence, both sides would need to hold discussions as often as possible. This would entail regular visits to Hong Kong by members of the Department (which the Governor has been anxious to
promote but time for which has been difficult to find). Furthermore all Heads and Deputy Heads of Hong Kong departments should be required to call in on the Department when in London. The need in short is for a continuous dialogue over a greater surface of policy and to promote a wider identity of purpose.
27.
A desirable, even essential, feature of the
arrangements should be the greater use of the various technical advisers both in the FCO and, the ODM in
such matters as e.g. social welfare, Such advisers do pay occasional visits to Hong Kong but perhaps not frequently enough to affect policy. It would seem desirable for these advisers to be called in by the Hong Kong Government at the stage of planning future development in order to provide broader perspectives.
28.
One advantage of these proposals is that it
should do something to lessen the burden on the Governor who at present acts as the main contact
between Whitehall and the colonial Government. For
ree pere le above, historical reasons it is clearly impossible to remove
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