TNAG-0694-FCO40-844-Inspection-of-Hong-Kong-Department-1977 — Page 62

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Private Secretary to Minister of State

Private Secretary

GIBRALTAR

1.

Dr. Owen's

At the beginning of February the Secretary of State (then Minister of State) expressed doubts about the disbanding of Gibraltar and General Department, which I had proposed. doubts related to timing, and the political difficulties that were expected over the closure of the dockyard.

2.

When I discussed the matter subsequently with Mr Judd, he agreed that the Governor should sound out Sir Joshua Hassan on the proposal. Sir Joshua's reaction was cautious but not

fundamentally adverse.

3.

Meanwhile it has been decided to defer implementation of the closure of the dockyard while the ODM carry out certain studies. I therefore think that the sooner we act on the departmental re-organisation the better, in order to get it out of the way before other problems relating to Gibraltar reach a critical stage.

4.

I therefore recommend that Gibraltar and General Department should be disbanded with effect from 12 April, the Gibraltar section passing to Southern European Department (except for aid work which will be transferred to the ODM), and the general section to Hong Kong Department.

5.

I understand that the Minister of State has asked whether the break-up of the Department might be presented in the context of his taking office and wishing to put the administrative arrangements for Gibraltar on the same level of significance as the other countries with which he is dealing. My inclination is that we should play the reorganisation in a very low key and present it as purely organisational and administrative with no policy implications. This is in fact the case. If we were to associate the Minister of State's name with it we would, I think, risk giving the impression that the change is more significant than it really is.

30 March 1977

Copied to:

Chief Clerk Mr Hibbert Mr Cortazzi

Michael Palliser

PLİKANIN SAN JOAA WPA, IL A

Mr Unwin, PPD

Mr Winchester, SED Mr Morgan, Home Inspector Men Sorenseng