TNAG-0996-FCO40-1219-Inspection-of-Hong-Kong-and-General-Department--February-198-1981 — Page 32

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE

HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT

REPORT BY MR FB WHEELER

FEBRUARY 1981

Head of Department

DS4

Mr R D Clift

PART II

24.

Although he has not served in Hong Kong, Mr Clift has had two postings in Peking and has long and extensive knowledge of the Far East. He reckons that he spends about 70% of his time on Hong Kong questions and the balance on General Section work. Despite its narrow geographical focus, Hong Kong throws up a lot of policy work much of it with a Chinese dimension, such as the future of the Colony and illegal immigration from China, as well as bilateral issues, eg defence costs, but much of the work is concerned with internal administration. The Head of Department has a lot of PQs and MPs' letters to process. Visiting Hong Kong politicians need careful handling.

25. There are some wide-ranging policy issues arising from the General Section, eg the Government's overall policy towards our remaining Dependent Territories. Issues such as capital punishment in the Colonies are politically sensitive. Most of the work, however, is connected with the appointment of senior staff to the Dependent Territories. The Head of Department attends meetings of the No 1 and 2 Boards when these appointments come up.

26.

Mr Clift spends and needs to spend four weeks a year in Hong Kong so as to familiarise himself with the bureaucracy and personalities.

27.

The Head of Hong Kong and General Department is the Colony's advocate in Whitehall but he is at the same time the Secretary of State's adviser on Hong Kong (and on colonial questions in general). He must strike the right balance between the two and maintain the confidence of both the Governor and senior Hong Kong politicians and FCO Ministers. Mr Clift does this well. It is essential that the Head of Department has direct experience of Hong Kong or China and preferably both.

Assistant

DS5S Mr P Morrice

28.

Mr Morrice supervises the work of all the Desk Officers and all papers go through him to the Head of Department. Some 55% of his time is spent on Hong Kong matters, 35% on Dependent Territories and the balance on administration and personnel matters. On the Hong Kong side he gets quite a lot of policy work, part connected with the long-term future of the Colony and part with the urgent issues of the day, eg the UK Nationality Bill. Although the Hong Kong Section

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ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE