Walter M. Sulke
O.B.E. J.P.
1st Floor, Bonaventure House, Leighton Road, Hong Kong G.P.O. Box 1317, Telegrams: 'WALSULKE' Telex: 71871 Telephone: 5-8957288 Fax: 5-8907017
19 DEC 1989
December 13, 1989
The Hon. Francis Maude, Minister of State,
Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH, ENGLAND.
Dear MR Monde
Mr Paul, HKD
Grateful for advice / draft reply
CX PS/Mr Maude
Mr McLaren
v. Gwan 19/12
The attached speech is not designed to make me particularly popular, but there is no harm in pointing out that the Emperor is not wearing any clothes. Being provocatively truthful might stir a few people into actually thinking about the problem.
One thing I do not mention in the speech is the very large problem of deteriorating morale in the Civil Service. This is not so much due to 1997 but much more because of a wrong-headed localisation policy promoting ob- viously incompetent or unpopular Civil Servants simply because they are Chinese, and David Wilson's new policy of cutting everything Government might be spending money on in order to have sufficient money for the airport and the sewage plants. Both very commendable objects, but so for instance is the necessity of housing junior police officers, a project agreed two or three years ago and now postponed, and this can be multiplied by other similar can- cellations.
With all best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful 1990.
Sincerely
ос
(W.M. SULKE)
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