TNAG-0576-FCO40-709-Visits-of-UK-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 185

CODE 18-77

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Mr Whitehead, PSD

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HONG KONG: PROPOSED DUTY VISIT BY MR MILTON

1. I seek financial authority for Mr Milton, the Assistant in my Department, to visit Hong Kong within the next month or so.

2. I think it is generally accepted that the work of geographical departments dealing with dependent territories, if it is to be done effectively, requires very detailed knowledge of the local scene. The work connected with dependent territories is both wider in scope and more detailed in content than is the case with independent countries; and, of course, we do not have that flow of disinterested comment on the affairs of the local government which an Embassy or High Commission normally provides.

3. It has been the practice for Heads of Departments, Assistants and desk officers in Dependent Territory Departments to make visits to their parishes in a way that only infrequently happens in geographical departments dealing with independent countries.

The need to know the situation on the ground in Hong Kong is perhaps greater than in the case of other dependent territories. Hong Kong is our largest remaining (and permanent) Colony and the world's 16th largest trading power; and the range and complexity of its problems and their implications for UK/Hong Kong relations are correspondingly greater and more acute. Moreover, a number of important groups in this country take a close interest in the affairs of Hong Kong. There is the NEC International Committee, the TUC International Committee, the PLP Foreign Affairs Group as well as a number of other MPs, businessmen, academics etc. who together make up the Hong Kong "pressure group" Many of those who follow Hong Kong affairs are critical of the situation there and the particular groups I have mentioned are well placed to obtain a hearing for their views than would otherwise be the case. Consequently, officials dealing with Hong Kong affairs need to be thoroughly familiar with the problems in order to provide informed advice to Ministers. This can only really be achieved by going to Hong Kong. Certainly, I feel better equipped to do my job as a result of the visit I made to Hong Kong last October.

4. Mr Milton has now been in HKIOD for four months, during which time he has acted as Head of Department on three or four occasions. I think he has now learned enough to benefit from a visit to Hong Kong. I would like him to spend about a fortnight there in the near future and certainly before the Secretary of State's visit in early May.

5. I appreciate that the present is not a good moment to make proposals for overseas visits by members of the Office. In fact, the Governor of Hong Kong, who is anxious that Mr Milton should visit the Colony as soon as possible, has offered to meet the cost from Hong Kong Government funds. While it would be tempting to accept this offer, I am afraid that I must advise against doing so. There is a tendency for the Hong Kong Government to regard HKIOD as its lobbyist inside the Office and with other Whitehall departments. We always have to be careful to avoid finding ourselves in this position. think it would be possible for Mr Milton to be accommodated privately by a member of the Hong Kong Government Service without running this risk. I would hope that this could be arranged, thereby reducing the

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