Mr Clay POD
MARAFT
Bil
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Simon
ABSENCES FROM POST BY GOVERNORS/HEADS OF MISSION
1.
Please refer to your circular minute of 6 June
(FCO circular No. 150/90) addressed to all Heads of Mission and Governors of Dependent Territories setting out revised procedures for clearing absences from post.
2.
The Governor of Hong Kong has questioned whether these standard procedures are really appropriate as far as he is concerned (Hong Kong telno 1969). He has suggested that it would be more sensible if continued to clear his lines informally with this department as he has done hitherto. Mr McLaren agrees.
3.
In
The Governor of Hong Kong is clearly in a very different position from Heads of Mission and the Governors of other dependent territories, given the size of the Hong Kong Government and his heavy programme of overseas travel. Moreover, as one of our objectives is to bolster the autonomy of the Hong Kong Government in the run up to 1997, it would set an undesirable precedent if the Governor was required to seek formal permission from the FCO whenever he wished to leave the territory. practice, the Governor consults us in advance about his forthcoming programme of overseas visits and keeps us closely informed as planning develops. The Hong Kong Government also notifies us of the Governor's departure from and return to post. But it has not previously been considered necessary for the Governor to send a "Charge of Mission" telegram seeking formal approval for each journey.
4.
I should be grateful if you would let me know whether you are content for the Governor to continue to follow these more informal procedures.
27 June 1990
cc: Mr McLaren
Mr Burns
Mr Paul, HKD
R M Marsden
Hong Kong Department WH302
270 2650
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