SPEC SMA
CONFIDENTIAL
q
HKA 431/1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 198
OF 11123OZ FEBRUARY 92
7
PERSONAL FOR PS/GH FROM RICKETTS, HKD
YOUR TELNO 343: SENIOR APPOINTMENTS
•
110275
MDLOAN 7096
TOP COPY Q Dies
1 THANK YOU FOR THIS FURTHER CLARIFICATION WHICH WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH LORD CAITHNESS.
2. WE NATURALLY SHARE YOUR CONCERN TO AVOID ESTABLISHING PRECEDENTS WHICH WOULD FACILITATE PEKING'S INTERFERENCE AFTER 1997. HOWEVER, IN ADDITION TO SUBSTANTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE POSTS LISTED IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S LETTER OF 3 JUNE 1991, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSULTED ABOUT ANY ACTING APPOINTMENTS LIKELY TO LEAD TO SUBSTANTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE MOST SENIOR POSITIONS (CHIEF SECRETARY, FINANCIAL SECRETARY, ATTORNEY GENERAL, CHIEF JUSTICE AND HIGH COURT JUDGES, COMMISSIONER OF POLICE ETC) AND TO SENIOR POSITIONS INVOLVING REGULAR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CHINESE (SECRETARY FOR WORKS, SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES AND LAW OFFICER (INTERNATIONAL LAW)). WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE UP YOUR OFFER OF THE REGULAR CANNUAL?) FIVE YEAR FORECAST OF SENIOR STAFF POSTINGS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF, AS YOU SUGGEST, YOU WERE ABLE TO GIVE US SLIGHTLY MORE NOTICE OF ANNOUNCEMENT OF APPOINTMENTS TO SENIOR JOBS.
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3. WE ARE NOT QUITE CLEAR FROM PARA 3 OF YOUR TUR WHETHER YOU JUDGE THAT AFTER 1 JULY 1997 PEKING WILL BE CONTENT FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO MAKE LONG TERM ACTING APPOINTMENTS LIKELY TO LEAD TO SUBSTANTIVE APPOINTMENTS AS PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE BL 48(5) PROCEDURE, IE NOMINATING THEM AND REPORTING THEM TO THE CPG FOR APPOINTMENT. AS SEEN FROM HERE IT WOULD NOT HELP THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO OPERATE BL 48(5) AS WE WOULD ALL WISH IF A CONTROVERSY WERE TO BREAK OUT BETWEEN HIM AND PEKING ABOUT WHICH APPOINTMENTS IT COVERS: MIGHT IT BE BETTER FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW TO MOVE AWAY BEFORE 1997 FROM THE PRACTICE OF LONG TERM ACTING APPOINTMENTS?
HURD
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CONFIDENTIAL
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