hmocs.psts.ADM
SLM
CONFIDENTIAL
MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE
6. A number of former Hong Kong HMOCS officers have been and are currently employed in other DTS. They are in positions supervised by both the Diplomatic Wing and the ODA. of the posts now filled by expatriates, Y are HMOCS officers who were
originally recruited to serve in Hong Kong and Z other HMOCS officers who initially served in other DTS and then were taken
on in Hong Kong.
7. In general, HMOCS officers have much to offer. Not all
have adapted well to today's environment where political
skills are particularly important (in Hong Kong, despite the absence of internal self-government, as elsewhere). But many do a first class job.
8.
Hong Kong HMOCS officers have shown considerable interest
in working in other DTS. Following correspondence with the
Hong Kong Government we have now established a proper system
to ensure they are fully aware of forthcoming vacancies.
We can
9. In May we opened consultations on the arrangements that
HMG will put in place for HMOCS in Hong Kong as a result of
the change of sovereignty in 1997. Our proposals fell well
short of what HMOCS officers expected and now demand.
expect them to press their case hard eg they will probably try to have a judicial review of our handling of the issue and to organise action by MPs. We therefore need to be extremely
careful that all our actions, and reasons for them, stand up
to scrutiny.
10.
We already know that the HMOCS Association have focused
on the issue of employment in other DTS : their
representatives raised it with Mr Goodlad when he last visited
Hong Kong. For a number of reasons HMOCS officers are already suspicious of the Diplomatic Service: any suggestion that we
CONFIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE