OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES
ANNEX C
(A) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
(PSC)
The PSC oversees the Hong Kong civil service and advises on policy and staff related matters such as appointments. The Secretary of State's approval is sought for the appointment
of its Chairman. Hong Kong Government has been unable to discover why this is done as the Chairman of the PSC is not
a member of the public service. However as the Chairman is
of Secretary rank, the practice parallels the present
arrangements for the Secretary of State's approval under
CR19 ie approval is given for posts at deputy director (D3)
grade and above.
We and the Hong Kong Government have now agreed that it is not necessary for this appointment to be referred to the
Secretary of State for approval. Although the post is an important one to the Hong Kong civil service there is no
reason for the Secretary of State to have a role. no comparable post in the Basic Law.
There is
(B) TRANSFER OF OFFICERS TO THE PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT
The Secretary of State's approval is sought for the appointment of expatriate contract officers to permanent and
pensionable offices in the Hong Kong civil service and Judiciary. This is done in conjunction with an officer's application for membership of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service, as one of the criterion for membership is permanent status. However, although it is necessary for us to retain
approval for HMOCS membership, it should be for the Hong Kong Government alone to decide who should be appointed on a permanent basis to its public service. We have agreed with
the Hong Kong Government that such transfers can be dealt
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