CODE 18-77
$S 10/76
Mr Stewart
Mr Quantrill
Mrs Gregory
(separate copies)
CONFIDENTIAL
Reference...
RECRUITMENT ON PENSIONABLE TERMS IN HONG KONG
1. The Hong Kong Government Public Service totals well over 100,000. Of these some 2,500 - 3,000 are overseas officers employed either on pensionable or agreement terms of service. The Administrative Service is very small in relation to the Civil Service - a total of 223 posts with overseas officers filling about 114 of them.
2.
Overseas professional, specialist and technical officers are only recruited when local officers with suitable qualifica- tions are not available. They are recruited on agreement terms, or if from the Home Civil Service on temporary transfer terms. A very small number of these officers serving on agreement or temporary transfer terms whose services continue to be needed on a long term basis convert from agreement or temporary transfer terms to the pensionable establishment with the Hong Kong Government and our approval. They may then qualify for HMOCS membership.
3.
whether
Police recruitment from the UK is at the Inspectorate level. In the last few years the Hong Kong Government Office has taken over recruitment from the Crown Agents. The Secretary of State has a representative on the Selection Board (at present Mr Howard). Inspectors now accept agreement terms of service. It is not known yet - and it is probably too early there is any indication of a wish to convert to pensionable terms of service. The unsettled atmosphere in the RHKPF resulting from corruption obviously casts a shadow at present but, if the service is to remain a sound disciplined force, there will be need for some sort of medium termed career as well as agreement terms unless a series of linked contracts are deemed adequate.
4.
In the Administrative Service the pattern has been for the Government to take in annually about 24, split roughly into 12 locals and 12 overseas. Since 1972 the overseas intake has been in all some 30 graduates on a pensionable basis and about 22 experienced officers on agreement or transfer terms from other DTS.
5. We should not overlook that whilst the ultimate responsi- bility for the DTS is with the Secretary of State, who is responsible to Parliament, all officers in Hong Kong are servants of the Hong Kong Government. Nevertheless, they are subject to Colonial Regulations and under CR19 the control
CONFIDENTIAL
/of appointment