CONFIDENTIAL
071334
MDHOAN 21
THEIR OWN EXPLANATORY NOTE OR COMMENT (PERHAPS ENCOURAGING MEMBERS TO CHANNEL THEIR VIEWS THROUGH THE COMMITTEE), WE WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION, AND NEED NOT ASK YOU TO CIRCULATE COPIES SEPARATELY, PROVIDED THAT:
(A) THE COMMITTEE TAKE ACTION QUICKLY, SO THAT OFFICERS HAVE A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO SEND COMMENTS BY 24 APRIL:
(B) THEY SEND COPIES (AS WE UNDERSTAND THEY INTEND) TO ALL HMOCS OFFICERS, NOT JUST THOSE WHO HAVE SO FAR JOINED THE ASSOCIATION:
AND
(C) THEY UNDERSTAND THAT (UNLESS THEY PREFER TO DO THIS THEMSELVES) YOU WILL BE LETTING THE CONTRACT OFFICERS CONCERNED KNOW WHERE MATTERS STAND.
5.
WRITTEN COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG DEPARTMENT, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, LONDON SW1A 2AH. BECAUSE OF THE TIME PRESSURE WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH COULD OFFER TO ACT AS POST-BOX FOR SUCH COMMENTS, IE OFFERING TO FORWARD TO US ANY COMMENTS RECEIVED IN HONG KONG
BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON 24 APRIL.
6. IF CSB FORWARD THE STATEMENT, WHETHER TO CONTRACT OFFICERS (THROUGH THE POLICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE MANAGEMENT) OR TO HMOCS OFFICERS AS WELL, THEY WILL NO DOUBT CONFINE THE COVERING COMMUNICATION TO SOMETHING SHORT AND FACTUAL EXPLAINING THAT IT ENCLOSES OR ATTACHES A STATEMENT ABOUT MATTERS OF CONCERN TO HMOCS OFFICERS WHICH WAS COMMUNICATED ON BEHALF OF HMG IN THE UK TO THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION OF HMOCS IN HONG KONG ON 7 APRIL: DRAWS ATTENTION TO THE TIMETABLE FOR COMMENT AND CONSULTATIONS SET OUT IN ITS FINAL PARAGRAPH: AND STATES HOW AND WHERE ANY INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS SHOULD BE SENT (PARA 5 ABOVE).
FOR YOUR INFORMATION WE DO NOT EXCLUDE EXTENDING THE 24 APRIL DEADLINE BY A WEEK OR TEN DAYS, AND CORRESPONDINGLY SETTING BACK THE LATER STAGES OF THE PROGRAMME, BUT WE SHOULD PREFER TO STICK TO THE TIMETABLE IN THE STATEMENT IF POSSIBLE.
HURD
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