TNAG-1806-FCO40-2567-Chinese-interest-in-the-Hong-Kong-Civil-Service-1988 — Page 32

布政司署

香港下亞厘畢道

* Our Ref.: PA CR L/M 413/87

來函檔號 Your Ref.:

CONFIDENTIAL

DIEU

FT

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

2 February 1988

CO Hum Esq

Hong Kong Department

FCO

Dear Christopher,

HUD 256/4

CHINESE INTEREST IN HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE

N2

I enclose a copy of a self-explanatory letter from the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Eric Ho, to David Ford about a meeting with two visitors from the Fund for Reform and Opening of China Inc.

2.

The request by T S Lo may partly reflect his own wish to keep in the swim but suggests also that the Chinese are starting to study seriously how to implement Zhao's ideas on the Civil Service. I recall that Alyson Bailes discussed this with some of the Chinese team during JLG VIII. If the Chinese wish to develop this dialogue further, we shall need to consider carefully how we should respond. We would certainly not agree to deal through T S Lo. We would also be wary of getting into too formal or intense a dialogue on civil service matters, which could well be misunderstood here as Chinese interference in our affairs, rather than learning from us. From Hong Kong's point of view, it might be better to steer Chinese curiosity towards the UK. We shall be thinking about this but would be grateful for any ideas from you or Alyson meanwhile.

Ins

Dich

R D Clift

cc Miss Alyson Bailes, PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

له