TNAG-2790-FCO40-4029-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 206

SECRET

- 2 -

5.

PA thought there was a strong case for delinking the LO(IL) post from the Attorney 'General's chain of command, given the very different nature of its responsibilities. The post should be free-standing. It could indeed be part of the PA's Office thought he felt less strongly about this. He thought Mr. Edwards, the current incumbent, would be content to operate separately from the Attorney General's Chambers, but his services would still of course be available to the Hong Kong Government, as of course would be the PA's Office which would be formally part of HKG until 1997.

6.

UK Rep JLG agreed that the LO (IL) post should be separate from the Legal Department and could be part of the PA's Office. He understood that Mr. Edwards felt quite strongly that he should operate separately and that there was a risk that HKG might lose his services if he had to continue indefinitely under the present arrangements. The Governor said that we should certainly seek to avoid this.

7.

The CS said he would wish to consider the issue further. At the Governor's request, he agreed to have a private discussion with LO (IL) and to let the Governor know the outcome.

Action: CS

HMOCS

8.

Mr. Waters suggested that because of the UK angle, the HMOCS issue should be handled by the PA's Office from 1995. The CS said that he would have no objection to HMOCS policy being dealt with by the PA's Office, although the practical arrangements and casework would have to be dealt with by CSB. This was agreed.

SECRET