CONFIDENTIAL
Hong Kong from 1 July 1988. The administration here
would therefore much prefer to look at the case for an
interpreter employed by HKG being reimburn for work
carried out for HMG. They would be extremely reluctant
to create the extra manpower slot here. You may there-
fore wish to consider whether this might offer a way of
providing for a higher salary than the IKO Is at present
able to offer in its Chinese Language Division.
would of course be hard but fair bargaining about
the way costs should be apportioned. This would have to
take into account the fact that despite importance
to Hong Kong, the JLG is a Sino-British group and it is
ultimately HMG's responsibility to see that it is properly serviced.)
recruit.
(There
(b) Someone from the BBC External Services. We
agree that this is a possible source from which to
However we understand that the best people
there at present are Peking-born: and one left China
illegally about ten years ago. So there could be
clearance problems.
(c) Using an FCO desk officer.
Quite apart from
the variable standards reached by our language students,
this would surely not provide the degree of
concentration or continuity which would be needed to
reach the standard provided by a full-time Interpreter.
(d) A wife: open to the same objections as (c).
Incidentally the Ashton family is ruled out at present
on other grounds, as Judy is pregnant.
3.
We have been making some discreet enquiries about
other avenues. The only name we have come across that
CONFIDENTIAL
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