CONFIDENTIAL
MDLIA
074363
WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF REDUCING THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION'S FREEDOM OF ACTION IN A WAY WHICH WILL RUN COUNTER TO OUR AIM OF SETTING THE SCENE FOR A HIGHLY AUTONOMOUS HONG KONG SAR AFTER 1997.
4. IF MINISTERS ARE INTERESTED IN THE WIDER ISSUE OF FUTURE APPOINTMENTS DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD AND THE QUESTION OF LOCALISATION, IT MIGHT BE MORE PRODUCTIVE TO DEAL WITH THE SUBJECT IN A WIDER FRAMEWORK. ONE WAY OF DOING THIS WOULD BE FOR US TO SEND YOU A FORECAST OF SENIOR STAFF POSTINGS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THIS WOULD OF COURSE HAVE TO BE WITH THE IMPORTANT CAVEAT THAT FORECASTS ARE JUST THAT, AND THAT ACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS OFTEN HAVE TO BE ALTERED TO MEET CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
5. WE ARE AWARE THAT WE GAVE YOU ONLY MINIMAL NOTICE OF THE LAST ROUND OF POSTINGS. WE WOULD BE HAPPY IN FUTURE TO SEND YOU DETAILS SAY A WEEK AHEAD, IF THIS WOULD HELP.
WILSON
YYYY
MAIN
18
LIMITED
HKD
DISTRIBUTION
18
SIR J COLES
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
MR BURNS
NNNN
PAGE
2
CONFIDENTIAL
721
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