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Generally, he is required to maintain public order and security, assist the administration of justice, support public and private financial and commercial integrity, and advance the economic and social development of the country. Specifically, numerous duties are laid upon him in various fields by the Constitution, and directives from the Secretary of State. In territories where capital punishment is retained, the exercise of the Prerogative of Mercy is delegated to him. He needs to have political sense,
tact and decisiveness. bracketed with a keen interest in constitutional
relationships and in all aspects of Government and public administration. 3. Some of the skills and experience required are different from those of a diplomat, but the standard required is equally high. It is as important that high-calibre officers be selected for such office in the Dependent Territories, as for normal mainstream Diplomatic Service work. There is no reason why a Diplomatic Service officer should not include service in a Dependent Territory
as part of a worthwhile mainstream career.
Earlier Proposals
+
The
4. A number of solutions have been proposed in the past. None have prospered mainly because the problem was not then as immediately pressing as it is today. The most elaborate proposal was for the creation of a Dependent Territories Administrative Branch of the Diplomatic. Service, which was to have been an occupational group administered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to which officers from the Diplomatic Service or the Home Civil Service could be seconded as required for service in Dependent Territories. proposal was announced in the House of Lords in April 1973. Negotiations in Whitehall resulted in agreement only for terms and conditions comparable to those of the Home Civil Service or the Diplomatic Service, but without the career prospects of either. This was insufficient to attract suitable candidates. At the end
of 1973, plans for the Branch were abandoned. The refusal of Hong Kong to participate was another major factor.
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5. In 1977, proposals were put forward for a series of secondments
of Diplomatic Service officers to work in Dependent Territories.
This scheme produced some practical results but did not contain
either formal training or go very far in career planning. Its main
aim was to introduce Diplomatic Service officers to Dependent Territory work for the first time so as to draw on this initial experience later in an officer's career. It has partly served this purpose, although there has been a tendency for Diplomatic Service officers to fill these jobs only if they have had previous HMOċS experience.
6. Again in 1977, serving Governors were asked for their views
on future staffing. Three main suggestions emerged:
a) the retirement age for HMOCS should be raised to 60
or even 65;
b) Hong Kong should supply most future Governors for other
territories;
c) future Governors should be drawn from the Diplomatic
Service, and not necessarily from officers with HMOCS experience, but an Inspector-General of Dependent Territories (a retired, distinguished, Governor) should be appointed to make regular visits to the territories in order to give advice, comfort, etc to the new breed
of Governors.
(a) was rightly seen as a stop-gap and has been used on occasion, eg Caymans and Bermuda; (b) has failed, except on the odd occasion, because the high emoluments paid to Hong Kong officers make it difficult to second them for service in other territories without expensive topping-up; and (c) has not been pursued because it has not yet proved necessary. However, as the number of non-HMOCS Governors increases, there could in fact be a case for it. This
is reflected in the recommendations.
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Trend to use of Diplomatic Service Officers
7. In 1977, 6 out of 14 posts (ie 43%) in Dependent Territories graded at DS4 and above were held by serving Diplomatic Service officers. Today, 9 out of 13 such posts (70%) are now occupied by Diplomatic Service officers. This trend is likely to continue and, if Dependent Territory service is to be accepted as a demand on the Diplomatic Service, there are good arguments for speeding
it up.
Requirements for the Period 1981 to 1990
8.
Assuming a 3-year posting, which is the norm in the Diplomatic Service, and more advisable in terms of the remaining dependencies, requirements will be as follows:
Territory
Anguilla
Post
Years
1982
DS4 Commissioner
1985
1988
1983
Ascension Island
DS5 Administrator
1986
1989
1983(possibly) Belize
1984 (possibly) Bermuda
X
1981
Bermuda
DS3
Governor
DS3
Governor
DS 4
-
Deputy Governor
1984 (possibly)
1981
British Virgin Islands DS4 Governor
1984
1987
1990
X
1983
British Virgin Islands DS5 -
Financial Secretary
1986
1989
1981
Cayman Islands
DS4 Governor
1984
1987
1990
1982
Falkland Islands
DS3
Governor
1985
1988
1982
Falkland Islands
DS 4
Chief Secretary
1985
1988
/1982
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