JVT HOUSE HK
8-20 5:04
PHGE IV
[HKLADP]
CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Telephone 01.
fs.
I have jest recemed this letter from P(SP); for
consideration. Qu file
to me, pl.
233 4439
K O Shipley Esq
Civil Service Branch
Government Secretariat
HONG KONG
Your reference
واهد
Our reference
HKA 432/1
Date
7 August 1985
Dea keith,
(
now last time flies!)
1. During our meeting here earlier this month we briefly discussed the question of the necessity for you
necessity for you to continue to obtain the Secretary of State's approval for the promotion and appointment of officers in
In certain grades I recall that you mentioned that you had some time ago been in correspondence on the subject with Richard Hoare. Unfortunately, although we have made a thorough search of our records as far back as 1982, we been able to turn up the correspondence. (Perhaps, if you think it would help, you could in due course let me have copies.) You mentioned that there might be merit In OUI reexamining the position now. (I see also from the minutes of EXCO's meeting on 2 July that you are looking at this again in
in the context of proposals to establish an executive Public Service Commission.)
2.
Although we have not been able to turn up your Own correspondence, we are aware that the subject has been raised before, most recently, as far as we have been able to establish, in the early 70s. Then, as indeed now, the FCO had no objection to the proposal but in agreeing that it could be implemented we had to point out that removal of the need to obtain the Secretary of State's approval would also result in
result in the loss of a method of qualification for membership
membership of HMOCS, under Section 1(2)(a) of Live Special Legulacions.
3.
The section is of course still used, ana i imagine you woul0 to lose this method of entry to HMOCS (whilst potential qualified applicants remain) by proposing a change in appointments procedure at the present time. However, as we have now reached the point where overseas officers are recruited on agreement terms only and cannot therefore apply Tor membership Of HMUUS, and where those still on overseas contract terms have only until the end of their current tour to decide on whether to opt for transfer to the Permanent and Pensionable Establishment (and thus
(and
for possible membership of HMOCS), the time is fast approaching when this condition will no longer apply.
4.
Apart from the question of qualification for membership of HMOCS we should, if we are to give formal consideration to this question, need clarification of the extent to which you wish the Secretary of State's authority to be delegated to Hong Kong. As far as I am aware, current practice requires that you obtain the
CONFIDENTIAL