TNAG-0571-FCO40-704-Planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 22

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COVERING CONFIDENTIAL

Reference........

Mr Stewart

HONG KONG:

1.

sel

Department at fold 20125

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BI-MONTHLY BRANCH PROGRESS REPORTS: ENVIRONMENT BRANCH

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In view of the Governor's suggestion that the bi-monthly progress reports from various Branches in the Colonial Secretariat might serve as a basis for monitoring the programme set forth the Planning Paper, I propose, subject to your agreement, to mark these reports to you. The understanding, established with Mr O'Keeffe's predecessor when the system of progress reports was first instituted, has been that the reports are for this Department's use only. However, I do not think that the Governor would now object if we were to show these reports to others eg the Overseas Labour Adviser, Economists Department etc if this appeared useful.

2. You have already seen the recent progress report from the Economic Services Branch, the first received since the Governor made his suggestion that the progress reports should be used for monitoring purposes. I now attach the bi-monthly progress report from the Environment Branch covering the months of May and June.. I do not think that this report calls for any particular comment; the work of the Environment Branch is not central to the programme in the Planning Paper.

3. It may be worth observing with reference to paragraph 88 (driving licences) of the report, that during my recent visit to Hong Kong I found a number of people incensed by a change about to be introduced whereby it will be an offence not to carry a driving licence at all times. This requirement was described to me by one person as indicative of the "boy scout mentality" which prevailed in the Hong Kong administration. I daresay that there are good reasons for laying down this requirement but it may be a small example of the administration's sometimes criticised tendency of making up its mind without first sounding out public opinion properly.

4. We have since discussed the question of what kind of reports we need for monitoring purposes and provisionally concluded that bi-monthly progress reports, at least in their present form, are probably not best suited for our purposes. My own preliminary view is that we should aim to draw up some kind of score card in respect of the various measures provided for in the programme and check progress (or lack of it) on the basis of the normal reports, including the bi-monthly Branch reports, we receive from Hong Kong. I think we agreed, however, that you should first discuss the question during your proposed visit to Hong Kong before we try to establish a system.

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29 July 1976

cc:

Mr Janvrin HKD

The Copy for:

D.F. Milli.

D F Milton

Hong Kong Department

Dept Foldo 123

In sumiten only/Action on

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CODE 18-77

COVERING CONFIDENTIAL