SECRET
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 11003OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 463
OF 10170OZ MARCH 92
SECRET
HKA 233/1
AND TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING
157333
MDHOAN 1190
TOP COPY Q DIST?
90
MIPT: HMOCS: DRAFT STATEMENT FOR USE WITH THE CHINESE
BEGINS
•
Рализ
1. I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY LONDON TO BRIEF YOU ON SOME ASPECTS OF THE TERMS OF APPOINTMENT OF THOSE EXPATRIATES SERVING IN THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE. HMG HAVE AN HISTORICAL OBLIGATION TO MEMBERS OF HMOCS AFFECTED BY A CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THE UKG TO DISCUSS THIS SHORTLY WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OFFICERS CONCERNED IN HONG KONG. MY AUTHORITIES WISH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO BE AWARE OF THE BACKGROUND, SO THAT THERE IS NO MISUNDERSTANDING. I THEREFORE WISH TO GIVE YOU IN CONFIDENCE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
FOR YOUR REFERENCE.
2. HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1954
TO REPLACE THE SEPARATE BRANCHES (COLONIAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE, COLONIAL POLICE SERVICE, ETC) OF HM COLONIAL SERVICE. THE BRITISH COLONIAL SERVICE ITSELF DATES FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE 19TH CENTURY, WHEN FORMALISED RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT PROCEDURES WERE ADOPTED IN LONDON TO PROVIDE STAFF FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICES IN THE VARIOUS COLONIES, PROTECTORATES AND OTHER TERRITORIES WHICH WERE DEPENDENT ON HMG IN THE UK.
3.
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MEMBERSHIP OF HMOCS HAS BEEN OPEN TO CERTAIN EXPATRIATE OFFICERS APPOINTED BY, OR ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO SERVE IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. WITH THE COMING OF INDEPENDENCE OR OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES WORLDWIDE FROM THE LATE 1950'S ONWARDS, HMOCS IS NOW A RAPIDLY DECLINING SERVICE. TRANSFERS BETWEEN TERRITORIES ARE NOW VERY RARE.
4.
IN HONG KONG, THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW APPOINTMENTS ELIGIBLE FOR HMOCS SINCE MARCH 1985. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 723 MEMBERS OF HMOCS IN THE HONG KONG PUBLIC SERVICE (MAINLY RHKP AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES). ALL ARE EXPATRIATE OFFICERS SERVING
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