ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE
40. As things stand, I believe that the complement and grading of staff in the Section is right. The two officers with the assistance of Mr Hall handle work, albeit a bit reduced, previously done by a staff of double this size.
Future of General Section
41.
I have commented in Part I that while I recommend no change in the Department's structure the opportunity should be taken to reassign the work of the General Section if HKGD were merged as part of a general reshuffle of Asian departments. I believe that the staffing work should go to Curtis Green where analogous skills exist. Initially it would, I think, be advisable if the appointments work were not distributed among the geographical areas of POD and the financial aspects given to PSD, but rather the Head of Genera! Section should simply transfer to POD and continue her present work with the support of Mr Hall. After a couple of years when members of HMOCS and other senior administrative staff overseas have grown accustorned to POD handling the staffing work, it might be redistributed in POD and PSD and PPD would handle recruitment. I would see advantage in retaining the services of Mr Hall or someone with his experience during the transitional period.
42.
Of the 118 colonial appointments a third are in Hong Kong (see below). Of the balance to be handled by Curtis Green, half would be administrators, increasingly DS officers, the other half legal and judicial officers. Although these appointments would be outside POD's current experience, turnover is low and the choice of candidates narrow and not politically sensitive. They have caused HKGD few problems and should ultimately be manageable by Curtis Green.
43. The Governor of Hong Kong has urged that if a change of this kind were to take place responsibility for Hong Kong appointments should rest with the Hong Kong Section which oversees policy towards the Hong Kong Civil Service and is concerned with disciplinary and other such matters. I think this is right. There would be a slight awkwardness if a seconded officer continued to be a member of the Hong Kong Section. Papers on staffing would have to bypass him and be handled by the Assistant.
44.
Policy work in connection with the Dependent Territories, including the approval of postage stamp issues, could be handled by one DS9 Desk Officer. As 14 out of 17 remaining colonies come within the orbit of WIAD, it would be natural for this desk to be accommodated there. An alternative which might offer more detachment but less regional expertise would be to place it with Commonwealth Co-ordination Department. I have not examined relative workloads. in the two departments.
Secretarial Staff
Miss S M Ellis - PA to Head of Department
S2
$2
Miss C M Harrup
$2
Miss G Oxley
13
ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE