TNAG-2790-FCO40-4029-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 193

CONFIDENTIAL

of race memory and a capacity to draw on previous experience to forecast Chinese likely reactions to future developments.

5.

One case history illustrates the need for this race memory.

6. In short, we have an important requirement to maintain a research capability on the Hong Kong negotiations. We receive excellent service from Mr Wye's section at present. And we have together been thinking ahead about how to sustain this capability. As you may know, a research post in the Hong Kong Government was created for the benefit of Ken Walker when he retired from the FCO. Mr Walker will shortly be retiring from

We have now secured the No 3 Board's agreement to post Helen Brooks from Mr Wye's section to replace Mr Walker in HKG for two years, and then to transfer as an "Oriental Secretary" for two years to our embryonic Consulate-General in Hong Kong, from 1996. This would mean that Miss Brooks would return to RAD in about 1998 with extensive direct experience of Hong Kong. We believe that she will provide a vital research capability to HKD or its successor at that time.

Lobeth

PF Ricketts

cowpercoles6.7/MIN/NJH

CONFIDENTIAL

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