TNAG-0592-FCO40-725-Inspection-of-Hong-Kong-and-Indian-Ocean-Department-1976 — Page 12

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENReference

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Mr Stewart

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HONG KONG DEPARTMENT:

SHOULD IT REMAIN A JOINT FCO/ODM DEPARTMENT?

1. Mr Duffy, as I mentioned to you, tells me that Mr Stanley has minuted as follows on his (Mr Duffy's) letter) of 13 August to the Crown Agents and others: "I am content to leave it to HKD to raise anything they wish with me. Maybe the Home Inspectorsd be.

2. Mr Stanley's comment may suggest that he is sympathetic to the proposition that HKD might cease to be a joint FCO/ODM department (on which please see the minutes resting with mine of 8 September). I am not sure, however, whether it would be profitable to re-open this question at this stage, though our continuing experience in dealing with the ODM, eg over ADB loans to Hong Kong, suggests that we derive no advantage from being labelled a joint department. Instead, I suggest that we might look at this question again if and when we reach the point of a merger of the General section of G & GD with HKD.

3. I note from Mr Stanley's minute of 22 October that the proposed transfer of the Gibraltar work to SED still awaits ministerial approval.

27 October 1976

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D.F. Milton

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D F Milton

Hong Kong Department

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BU 1/2/77 Jas

CODE 18 - 77

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE