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A
B
3.
Our position has consistently been that to ensure a smooth transition there should be as little change as possible in the structure and composition for the main institutions of Government. We first made specific proposals for the selection of principal officials in a
paper handed over to the Chinese in March 1988. Two of the
key proposals were that individuals who were to fill the
posts of principal officials in the first SARG should
(a) already be in post in the period before 1 July 1997, and (b) should remain in post for a reasonable period thereafter. We intended to inform the Chinese on the selection of individuals who seemed likely to remain in the principal posts after 1997.
4. We subsequently handed over a series of papers culminating in one of December 1988. This paper suggested a confidential exchange of views on candidates whom the Chief Executive designate would nominate and report to the CPG for approval. Subject to such approval, the Hong Kong Government would then, so far as possible, ensure that the persons nominated occupied their respective equivalent posts before 1 July 1997.
B
Redacted Under FOI Exemption Sec 27(1)
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