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Branch, as a large section with links throughout government establishment. Lloyd's reasoning was that someone seconded from outside to a post of this type would have a chance to observe a standard colonial administration but would be less exposed in this large machine than if he were, for example, a Deputy Governor or Chief Secretary in a smaller post.

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7.

It would be helpful to have your thoughts on this. not sure that I myself am convinced of the proposition. framework of Hong Kong administration may indeed be standard (although without an elected legislature) but its scale in comparison with other Dependent Territories must make a good deal of the work very different. But we would certainly not want to rule out the idea if it were acceptable to you. quite aware of the sensitivities in Hong Kong to too many secondments from the DS but we have in the past in conversation agreed that the Security Branch was an area where this practice had worked in the past and could do so again. If we had somebody who looked a likely candidate for a future gubernatorial post, it might indeed be worth considering whether he could usefully be employed by you.

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

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