TNAG-0711-FCO40-877-Appointment-of-Chief-Secretary--Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 37

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6.

This raises the question of who should succeed him as Chief Secretary. The choices are:-

a)

Philip Hadd on-Cave (52)

b)

Jack Cater (56)

These are the obvious front runners. The field also includes:-

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c) David Jordan (53)

d)

David Akers-Jones (51) Sevitary New Territories

Li Fook-kow, the present Secretary for Home Affairs, is the right age but he has not got the necessary steam. G P Lloyd (53) (now seconded to Bermuda) I know is well thought of in some quarters outside Hong Kong. However his performance here as an administrator was not of exceptional distinction, certainly no better than any of those mentioned above, nor has he attributes of personality, capacity to lead or to inspire confidence that are superior to those in para 6, and of course his knowledge of Hong Kong is slight in comparison and I do not consider him a candidate.

8. In my view both Haddon-Cave and Cater, though completely different people, are far ahead of any of the other candidates. Of the two Cater speaks the language fluently, has a much better knowledge of Hong Kong at all levels of society and in the New Territories as well as the Urban areas, and has much wider administrative experience, including Director of Commerce and Industry and Director of the Trade Development Council, as well as Secretary for Home Affairs and latterly Commissioner Against Corruption. Haddon-Cave is a much clearer-headed administrator with considerably more cutting edge and would be much better at disentangling the innumerable administrative problems that reach the Chief Secretary's desk. He is also more trusted by the Civil Service and also by business circles in Hong Kong. But his administrative experience is narrow - Commerce and Industry, Economics and Finance though his expertise is very high, and his present contacts with Hong Kong Society tend to be restricted to commercial and financial levels, and his political sensitivity is not so acute as Cater's. Both men are good with the press, have exceptional drive, are devoted to Hong Kong, and have considerable reputations outside it. Cater is trusted and liked in the FCO and

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