TNAG-0686-FCO40-835-Secondment-of-Deputy-Commissioner-of-Police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 8

CONFIDENTIAL

such an appointment). It is arguable that the best way to deal with it when the time comes would be to mention it as a natural arrangement which was assumed not to be controversial in any way. Such an appointment would not of course prevent there also being a Rhodesian staff officer if this was considered desirable.

4.

This said there will remain the need to ensure that the Royal Hong Kong Police staff officer is found some niche in the BSAP (or whatever it is to be called) so that he can be paid in the same way as Mr Henry. This is a complicated subject but what is planned for Mr Henry is that he should be paid by the Royal Hong Kong Police whọ would reclaim from the BSAP and that arrangements are made to see that his take home emoluments are no less than he has been receiving in Hong Kong. One could only find out with any certainty whether there was any room in the BSAP establishment by going to the Rhodesians, which I would not recommend at present (see para 5 below). While it would be best for him to be paid under the same arrangementa as envisaged for Mr Henry we might have to consider treating him as a member of the Resident Commissioner's personal staff for pay purposes if there prove to be difficulties.

5. I recommend

i) that the FCO endorses the Field Marshal's approval

for the personal staff officer;

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ii) that Colonel Reilly is authorised to write accordingly

to Mr Henry saying that he can sound out possible candidates, strictly in confidence; /

iii) that the Acting Governor is brought into the picture;

and

iv) that nothing at present is said to the Rhodesians but

if there are real signs of the possibility of a trans- itional period the plan to appoint a personal steff officer should be made known to Rhodesian officials.

J. Allan

J N Allan

Rhodesia Department

24 November 1977