[COLAMT]
SECRET
Private Secretary
FROM: AM Layden
DATE:
24 January 1986
MKK 2560/1
сс
PS/Mr Renton
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
24 JAN1986
DESK OF FICZK
INDEX
PA
4
USTRY
tution Taken
Ke
Sir W Harding
Dr Wilson
Mr Fifoot, Legal Adviser
HONG KONG PUBLIC SERVICE: LOCALISATION: SENIOR APPOINTMENTS
Problem
1.
The
Sino-British Joint Declaration
provides that the future Hong Kong
not employ
(Annex I,
(Annex I, Section IV)
Special Administrative
foreign nationals (ie
Region Government ma y
non-Chinese) as Heads of Branches or major Departments after
1997. Some adjustment is needed to the localisation policies of the Hong Kong Government to avoid a damaging break in the
continuity of the Civil Service in 1997. But it is
is important
that we should proceed at a pace
that will not harm the overall
quality and stability of the service. The Hong Kong Government have put forward proposals which se em well judged to achieve these aims, and they have been agreed by EXCO. HKG would like
to tell the staff involved about the proposals on 3 February.
2. The Chinese Government have shown sensitivity in this area. They are concerned that any changes brought about in order to
implement the Joint Declaration should not threaten stability
in Hong Kong, and that expatriate officers .n the lower and medium grades of the Hong Kong Civil Service should not be
discouraged from staying on after 1997. The Governor has
recommended, and HM Ambassador at Peking has agreed, that we
should inform the Chinese Government, in a low-key manner,
about the proposed changes before there is any chance of their
becoming public knowledge.
SECRET
18
VIBRAAKA