TNAG-0999-FCO40-1230-Appointments-of-senior-officials-in-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 89

PERSONAL STAFF IN CONFID

Chief Clerk

Political Adviser: HONG KONG

1.

•

43No 393-11

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

06 FEB 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

No

PA

BBR

REGISTRY

Action Taken

Aw h

Mr Munro has asked me to take up the action on the posting of Mr McLaren to Hong Kong to succeed Dr Wilson. As you know, this has now been agreed by the No 1 Board and approved by the Secretary of State.

2. Since you exchanged telegrams with the Governor the timing has slipped. Although in your DEYOU Telegram No 1090 of 5 December 1980 you suggested that Mr McLaren arrive in the second half of 1981' I understand that at that time it was envisaged that Mr McLaren would go in the summer, perhaps in July. However, there are two main reasons why this would not work:

a) A suitably qualified Japanese-speaking DS4 officer will

not be available to succeed Mr McLaren in FED until early November;

b) The Assistant Political Adviser, Mr Orr, is due to be

replaced by Mr Margolis immediately after Dr Wilson returns from his 6-week mountaineering trip in China.

It would obviously be wrong for the two changes to coincide.

Mr McLaren could leave FED early in October (his Assistant carrying the 4-week gap until his successor arrives) and reach Hong Kong by mid-October. He could have taken most of his leave in the summer and fitted in much of his briefing beforehand. Mr Margolis would have had 4 months to settle into his job before Dr Wilson leaves and Mr McLaren will have about 6 months in his post before the Governor departs in April 1982.

3. I now submit a draft telegram to the Governor asking for his agreement to this and for advice on the length of handover necessary between Mr McLaren and Dr Wilson. I understand that so far POD have no firm posting in mind for the latter so his departure could be fairly flexible.

4.

As soon

as we have the Governor's agreement to these arrangements, we will take the necessary action, in consultation with Curtis Green and the Hong Kong Government, for the mechanics of Mr McLaren's appointment.

8 January 1981

cc Mr Munro, POD

Дир

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

to issue

PERSONAL: STAFF IN CONFIDENCE : INDIV

5/12/1