RESTRICTED
the
Mr. Connor replied that POD considered applications they received from Hong Kong civil servants in the normal way. But there was no formal recuiting mechanism. In view of current sensitive situation in Hong Kong, the FCO did not wish to be seen to be making approaches to Hong Kong civil servants. Mr Stone observed that the Hong Kong civil service itself advertised vacant governorships among its members.
c)
Administrative support for Governors in budgetary-aided
territories
4.
Miss Robinson introduced CAD's paper. In the past there had been friction between the DW and the ODA concerning their respective responsibilities to budgetary-aided DTS. For CAD, this had become a purely academic issue when TCI came out of budgetary aid. However, in the light of the damage inflicted by the hurricane, Montserrat's return to budgetary aid was now a serious possibility. Hence the importance of the questions raised by the paper, since standing guidance was neither clear nor comprehensive. Miss Robinson emphasised that the paper she presented had been drafted by CAD; ODA's Finance Department wished for the moment to reserve their position.
5.
Mr January suggested that the discussion should focus on the recommendations in paragraph 7 of the paper. Mr Dunn emphasised that OED's resources were severely stretched, and they had no pool of resources specifically allocated for work in the DTS. Hence, with reference to the recommendation in paragraph 7(a), a project in a DT would have to wait its turn in the context of OED's worldwide priorities. Drawing on his recent experience in TCI, Mr Mills observed that in practice in
in a budgetary aided territory the ODA would recruit and pay for senior expatriate experts (eg engineers) who would carry out the necessary construction work. Mr Dunn undertook to investigate further OED's role in a budgetary aided DT with special reference to Miss Robinson's recommendations in paragraphs 7(a) and 7).
6.
On recommendat
ns 7(c) and 7 (d), Mr January reported on his investigations. At least in the Caribbean DTs Governors were provided with FCO-funded secretaries. (This had been
the case even
even in the TCI when in receipt of budgetary aid). Local staff were paid for from local budgets. Local budgets were also expected to provide office equipment up to a given standard. According to OSTD, stationery was provided free by the FCO to all DTs regardless of wealth or budgetary status, a somewhat surprising discovery which needed checking out. As for Governors' cars there appeared to be no consistent policy here. Whereas the ODA currently paid for the Governor of St Helena's car, the Governor of TCI
DT5AET
RESTRICTED