TNAG-0578-FCO40-711-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 72

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3.

EXEMPTION No

UNDER FOI 40(2)..

Once

has acquired status and wider experience by doing a couple of years on the L.A.B., and if his performance warrants, he could be a possible candidate for Leg. Co. But at the moment he is not an office-bearer, is disliked in his old union, and would not do. Moreover he has no outside community interests.

4.

Of these two |

in any

was involved he

is the only possible immediate candidate for Leg. Co. But there would be great difficulties both for him and for the Government. He could not continue with his present job (although we would see that see that something was provided for him); his age is 47 and if dropped from Leg. Co. he would be in a most invidious position; staff dispute in which the I would come under intolerably heavy pressure and suffer from severe conflict of interest. From the Government's side the main problem would be the implications for the Whitley type system of negotiation if a member of Leg. Co. and Finance Committee were also a representative of a negotiating union. All other Government service unions would wish similar direct access to Finance Committee and the present staff/ management machinery could be jeopardised.

5.

From point of view of the public there would be scepticism of the preferrment of a civil servant since they are generally regarded as more than able to look after themselves within the present system. The appointment would cut little ice with industrial workers and trades unionists with whom he has had little or no contact, but would probably cause little resentment either. The fact that he is likeable and popular would help.

6.

There is also the danger that he may lack the mettle to hold his own ground and thus become a mouthpiece for other less reliable people who would use him as a front. This risk could be reduced by the help he would get from the Commissioner for Labour and Father McGovern, but it is far from certain that he could put up a public performance on general industrial