TNAG-1951-FCO40-2779-British-capital-investment-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 141

CONFIDENTIAL STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

CONFIDENTIAL

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG

TELNO 038

OF 081855Z FEBRUARY 89

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

LE

072263

MDHOAN 4461

1.

YOU

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

PERSONAL FOR HOLLOWAY FROM MCLAREN, AUSS

THE WAY IS NOW CLEAR FOR PETER HEAP'S APPOINTMENT TO SUCCEED

CAND YOUR OWN FUTURE APPOINTMENT IN LOS ANGELES) TO BE ANNOUNCED IN HONG KONG. FROM PETER HEAP'S POINT OF VIEW, THE SOONER THIS IS DONE THE BETTER, SINCE HE IS CURRENTLY ON LEAVE

AND WOULD LIKE TO GET IN A FEW BRIEFING CALLS BEFORE HE RETURNS TO LAGOS ON 20 FEBRUARY. BUT WE AND THE DTI WOULD LIKE A FEW DAYS WARNING OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN ORDER TO INFORM KEY CONTACTS (EG, THE CHAIRMEN OF HKTAB AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION) IN ADVANCE. AND I ASSUME THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD WISH TO GIVE

ADVANCE NOTICE TO EXCO.

2

THIS SUGGESTS AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON WEDNESDAY, 15 FEBRUARY, WITH EXCO INFORMED AT THEIR REGULAR MEETING THE PREVIOUS DAY.

BUT WE ARE CONTENT TO LEAVE THE EXACT TIMING TO YOU, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

3.

DRAW.

MIFT CONTAINS A CV FOR PETER HEAP ON WHICH YOU MAY WISH TO

IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS, YOU MAY WANT TO BRING OUT THE

FACTS THAT:-

4.

(A) HEAP IS ALREADY IN THE SENIOR GRADE IN HIS PRESENT

APPOINTMENT IN LAGOS: HE IS NOT BEING APPOINTED ON

PROMOTION. THIS REFLECTS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE POST.

HE HAS ALREADY BEEN A HEAD OF MISSION

(HIGH COMMISSIONER IN NASSAU).

(B)

(C)

(D)

HE HAS AMPLE COMMERCIAL EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING IN HIS PRESENT APPOINTMENT.

WHILE HE HAS NOT SERVED PREVIOUSLY IN HONG KONG OR

THE FAR EAST, THE ABSENCE OF SUCH EXPERIENCE DID NOT PROVE A HANDICAP IN THE CASE OF PREVIOUS HIGHLY

SUCCESSFUL INCUMBENTS.

I SUGGEST THAT YOU AVOID GOING INTO THE QUESTION OF TIMING

FOR THE TIME BEING. THIS WILL DEPEND ON WHEN HEAP CAN LEAVE

LAGOS. HE IS UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO DO SO UNTIL SHORTLY BEFORE

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CONFIDENTIAL STAFF IN CONFIDENCE