SECRET AND PERSONAL
NEW GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG: SUPPORT STAFF
1.
The new Governor may have his own views on support staff and may wish to recruit from outside the Diplomatic Service. The paper does not attempt to deal with that possibility. It is designed instead to clarify what staff may be required from the Diplomatic Service so that some sensible contingency planning can be undertaken.
2.
The degree of support a new Governor will need depends in part on the role Ministers envisage him playing. People in Hong Kong will hope that he will vigorously advocate Hong Kong views to London and Peking. Ministers may want him to impose London's views more firmly than in the past. The Chinese will probably continue to decline to negotiate with the Governor on issues where they want HMG to
be in the lead.
Present Position
3.
The Governor works from Government House (GH). There are no UK-based staff in GH: he has a small personal staff (Counsellor-equivalent Principal Private Secretary and two Assistant Private Secretaries), all from the Hong Kong Civil Service. The Governor deals personally and frequently with the Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary, Policy Secretaries
MAIAAT/1
SECRET AND PERSONAL
/and other
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.