CODE 18-77
NOTE
Reference
୮
TO IN
13. 21
1 4 JUN 1977
HKA 431/7
COMMENTS ON DRAFT MINUTE TO MR STANLEY ON STAFF IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
IN THE 1980s
1. Paral: Last sentence: ODM recruit (except for Hong Kong) on OSAS or TC terms. The last sentence should therefore read "Almost all overseas professional and Technical Officers are recruited by the ODM on Overseas Service Aid Scheme or Technical Cooperation terms and by the Hong Kong Government London Office for Hong Kong.
2.
Para 2: With respect, I have considerable doubts about the statement at paragraph 2. The Hong Kong Government Service is always expanding to meet the essential needs of economic and social development. In May 1972 the Administrative cadre totalled 147 (including supernumerary posts) with about 60 70 overseas officers. Now the Administrative cadre totals 223. (including supernumerary posts) with about 122 overseas officers. (Incidentally 23 years or so ago the total cadre was 47.) Although the Hong Kong Government has in the last few years vigorously pursued a policy of trying to expand the recruitment of local candidates really good candidates are not attracted to the Administrative Service. There are too many lucrative openings in the private sector and in any case most local candidates do not wish to enter a political cadre. If anything happens to Hong Kong they are firmly identified in the Administrative Service. Hong Kong requires an intake of about 20 - 22 Administrative Officers a year. The pattern has been to try to get some 12 or so local graduates, 4 - 5 overseas cadets and 6 8 experienced overseas Officers. Last year we stopped overseas recruitment of cadets and cut down on recruitment of experienced overseas officers to make way for an expansion of local recruitment but I foresee that Hong Kong will be asking for further overseas officers in order to maintain a reasonable percentage of expatriates and the right balance of experience throughout the cadre. I would not expect the total number of Administrative Officers to go below the bracket of 100 120 in the 1980s. If I am right I would have thought
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the general pattern would be:-
i)
ii)
iii)
A steady recruitment of about 4- 5 Administrative cadets direct from university;
A trickle of experienced Officers from other Dependent Territories.
There are probably 8 12 Officers in the Pacific or elsewhere who can be considered for Hong Kong as they become surplus to needs;
A few DS or Home Civil Service Officers seconded to Pacific posts;
in order to maintain a top management with a reasonable balance of overseas and local officers.
3.
Para 3(a): Line 5: I suggest "Now in their middle or late 50s."
ра
PANE
/4 (i).