ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE
HKA
4
41511
3 0 MAR 1981
DAW OFFICER
Mr Wheeler'
(Inspectorate)
etoratf)
Sent GW 30/3
- Copy also to Mr. The pl
PA
› Teker
3√3
c.c. Mr Donald
Mr Clift
(11)
(HK&GD)
Mr Munro (POD) Mr Goulden (PSD)
INSPECTION OF HK&GD: YOUR MINUTE OF 18 MARCH TO MR CLIFT
I agree that as long as Hong Kong and General Department retains its current structure, the work of General Section should remain with it.
2. I see no objection in principle to your recommendation (No A2) that if Hong Kong work is integrated into another department, all the staffing work done by General Section should come to Curtis Green. But paragraph 43 of Part II seems to undermine this recommendation. I can see no convincing reason why Hong Kong appointments should be split off from other colonial appointments (except the sensitivities of Hong Kong itself) since there is no essential difference in the way they are handled. If we left responsibility for only Hong Kong appointments with Hong Kong Section, this might prevent staff resources being used in the most economical way. In short, I do not think it makes sense to divide Hong Kong work in this area from other colonial work. we accept (as you seem to do) that Hong Kong matters should continue to be the responsibility of a Hong Kong Section in a merged department, the rest of the colonial personnel work should stay with it and not be passed to Curtis Green.
If
3. Mr Clift, in his minute of 19 March, comes to much the same conclusion: that all colonial staffing work should be handled together. If he is right in believing that a separate Depend- encies Unit will be necessary for longer than the two years suggested in paragraph 41 of your Report, we can afford to review the position in 2 years and decide' then whether a separate Unit is essential.
чан
JK E Broadley
Personnel Policy Department
27 March 1981