Flagged on HKK
1/1 1972
Folio 63 on HKK 1/3 1973
Folio 17 on HKK 1/1 1972
Folio 28 on HKK 1/1 1972 Folio 4 on HXR 2/ 393/1 72 Folio 33 on HXR 2/ 393/1 72
Folio 50
on HXR 2/ 393/1 72 Folio 63 on HKK 1/3 1973
Mr Clift
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
Reference JIKA 431/393/6.
司
ль
2 5 SEP 1980
Thank you 2015 |
RECRUITMENT AND SECONDMENT INTO THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE
1. You asked me to look into a letter which the Governor of Hong Kong is alleged to have written to the Chief Clerk in 1972 about recruiting into Hong Kong candidates who were 'near misses' at the Administrative Entrance Examination for the DS.
2.
(28)
The Governor, in fact, wrote to the Chief Clerk in 1972 appealing for the secondment of six officers at Grades 5S or 4. A Whitehall trawl produced only four officers (1 FCO, 2 DOE, 1 MOD), but it was agreed that POD would continue to look out for suitable DS4s up to the limit of six. It was not easy to find generalist officers at Grade 4, although it was easier for specialists. Mention was also made then of seconding officers at DS7.
It
3. A separate scheme was being discussed at about the same time to devise a home-based administrative cadre of expatriate officers, who would form part of the DS. These officers would be employed in various territories while enjoying the same general terms of service applicable in the dependent territories; the arrangements would be underwritten by HMG and would involve UK assistance. would also permit greater interchange of officers between the dependent territories. Hong Kong declared themselves unable to participate; they described how the scheme would cause divide- ness between Chinese and British officers andifficulties over pensions, taxes, etc.; it was also thought that these officers would not be sufficiently committed to Hong Kong's interests. Although the files I have do not carry developments any further, I understand that this scheme was subsequently withdrawn; Hong Kong's reluctance no doubt played a large part as they would have been the biggest customers for such officers.
4. Hong Kong appear to have taken the initiative themselves over recruitment; the Establishments Officer, Mr Kidd, visited the CSC in Basingstoke to discuss recruitment including that of 'near misses' from the DS, and secondment. Five candidates emerged from the CSC, only one of whom appears to have pursued his interest. Hong Kong then approached the FCO to follow up with the CSC and the Oxbridge Appointments Bureaux. The candidates pro- duced were then interviewed at the FCO; seven were selected, only one of whom, Mr Hoare, had originally been proposed by the CSC. Even at that early stage, the amount of time devoted to Hong Kong recruitment appeared to be causing problems for the FCO;
however,
I gather from Mr Hall that the system continued until 1977 or 1978, when, because of staff cuts, the HKGO took over recruitment with Mr Hall as the (statutory) Secretary of State's representative on the Board. There was general agreement at a meeting held in 1973 that the standard of the seven officers was satisfactory; but the Governor wrongly assumed that CSSB had been responsible.
C.C.HKA431/393/3
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
15.
CODE 18-77
SS 8/78