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envisage a new UK-based administrative cadre for service in the
dependent territories. Members of this service would enjoy
as far as possible uniform grades, salary scales and terms of
service applicable in all dependent territories. These arrangements
would be underwritten by HMG and involve assistance from the
UK. The intention is that the new proposals should initially
cover new recruits to the Hong Kong Administrative Service, seconded
officers from the Diplomatic Service or the Home Civil Service,
and that at a later stage serving administrative officers would be
given an opportunity to join.
27. For the first time for a number of years 7 young Administrative
officers were recruited in the UK for Hong Kong during 1972.
We are
also currently arranging for a few secondments at a senior level from
the Diplomatic and Home Civil Service.
HONG KONG REPRESENTATION OVERSEAS
28.
In addition to the Hong Kong Government Office in London,
Hong Kong has representatives in our embassies in Washington
and Brussels, and in the Mission at Geneva. In Washington and
Geneva the officers concerned are members of the Diplomatic Service
on secondment. It is possible that members of UMELCO may ask,
as they did when Mr Rippon had lunch with them, whether similar
representation could be arranged at other posts. If so, the
Secretary of State may like to make a non-committal reply.
A number of our embassies already do a good deal of work for Hong Kong
(a good example is Tokyo, where the Commercial Department in particular
actively look after Hong Kong's interests). Whether there would be
a full-time job in any other post for a Hong Kong representative
is open to question, although specific proposals could doubtless
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