ADMIN IN CONFIDENCE
6. quite agree that the inspectors that there could be no question of the Political Adviser taking on the role, both because he is already heavily loaded and because it would unacceptably divide his loyalties. I also agree that it would not be possible or sensible to try to share a DS4 between this Office and the Trade Commission.
7.
The key to successful performance in this job is the right level of expertise and experience. A DS5 could probably do it, but I agree that he would have to be exceptional to do it successfully. He would certainly need the local rank of Counsellor in order to enable him to deal at the appropriate level with both the Chinese and Hong Kong Government. be a heavy responsibility for a Grade 5 officer.
It would
I do
8.
I regard the suggestion that any significant part of the work could be done successfully by a DS6 officer as very wide of the mark. A DS6 officer would be largely unemployed because we could not afford to give any significant part of the work to him. not think for a moment that he would be more successful in extending the JLG contacts in the mid-levels of the Hong Kong Government in the way suggested. He would in my view be more likely to be looked down on as a second class officer. The dealings with the Chinese at present handled by the DS4 could not be managed by a DS6 (he would end up competing for the dealings at present handled by the DS7). The resultant need for the Head of Mission to shoulder the whole load would create intolerable difficulties for us: it is not just a matter of "awkwardness". The way the Chinese operate it is in fact impossible for the Senior Representative to handle certain matters, such as the weekly meetings at Deputy level, or Sub-group operations which by definition have to be carried out below Senior Representative level.
9.
As to tour length for the DS4, I suspect that in most cases it would not make much sense to shorten the posting to a single tour which would be expensive and wasteful of the particular experience needed for this job, which is in short supply. I could accept, however, that it might make sense in some cases.
10.
I stress that the above is criticism of some of the arguments that have been considered. I am sure that the conclusions reached by the Inspectors are right. The more SO because, as I say, some of the arguments which they adduce as pointing in the other direction seem to me invalid.
ADMIN IN CONFIDENCE
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