SECRET AND PERSONAL
pro a Diplomatic Adviser would give the Governor a senior UK-based confidant, with experience of Whitehall, of diplomacy and (if possible) of China.
He could give priority to ensuring that HMG's
interests were protected in the transition period, and
offer independent advice alongside that from HKG.
Providing he was able to attend ExCo, he could become a competent adviser on all issues relating to the
administration.
con it is not possible to predict exactly how a
Diplomatic Adviser's role would develop. But he could
become a very influential figure in Hong Kong. The
creation of such a position would be resented by the Hong Kong civil service, and could lead to serious
friction with the Chief Secretary unless great care
was taken on both sides. A post would be seen as
introducing a barrier between the Governor and his
administration, and tending to isolate the Governor in
GH. There could be a weakening of loyalty and
commitment among civil servants at a time when Hong
Kong will need as much stability and continuity as possible in the civil service. Some might see the
arrival of a senior UK-based official as a bad
precedent for interference from Peking post 1997.
11.
One means of mitigating the disruptive effect cf importing UK-based staff to support the Governor would
be to adopt a gradual approach. The Governor would go out to Hong Kong without support staff and inherit the
MAIAAT/8
SECRET AND PRSONAL
/existing
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