TNAG-0915-FCO40-1126-Inspection-of-British-Trade-Commission--Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 29

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE

Mr Crane (Personnel Policy Department CG 213A)

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BCARFE POST IN HONG KONG

1.

We spoke about your minute of 31 May. As I explained Mr Rogers has already officially retired. As, however, on his retirement date (6 June) he was in the middle of air services negotiations in Peking, DOT are allowing him to continue this piece of unfinished business (although they are now concerned that he is prolonging the talks unnecessarily).

2. His retirement is not irrelevant to the point at issue as there must be some suspicions that his motives in writing to the Chief Inspector were not entirely high-minded and that he was trying to pre-empt a decision which should really be discussed with his successors. I would, therefore, strongly recommend that no decisions should be taken on the future of the BCARFE post without consultation with Mr Roberts, who has replaced Mr Rogers as the Under Secretary in CAIR in the Department of Trade as he will have to live with the consequences of any change.

3. This is particularly important as BCARFE's limited role has been largely the result of Mr Rogers' own very personal way of dealing with air services. negotiations. He has always preferred to handle talks himself with the minimum of interference from posts, the FCO or even his own department and this obviously leaves little scope for a regional representative. I believe Mr Roberts is more inclined to delegate responsibility. This will not necessarily mean that he will want to retain the BCARFE post as he may prefer to see negotiations conducted by an Assistant Secretary or Principal working directly to him rather than by a regional representative who is in a more independent position. should, however, give him the opportunity to comment.

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29 June 1979

CC:

A E Stoddart (Miss)

Maritime, Aviation and Environment Department G 66/1 233 3581

Mr Quantill (Hong Kong and General Department K 247)

Mr Masefield (Far Eastern Department K 258) Mr Flower (South East Asian Department W 86)