CONFIDENTIAL
MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE
HKA 233/6
Hong Kong Department
FROM:
N J COX
DATE:
Cc:
25 August 1992
PS/PUS
Sir J Coles
Mrs Sutherland Mr Beamish o/r Mr Greenstock Mr Lamport, PMD Mr Llewellyn, Legal Advisers.
30
Mr Baker, WIAD
HMOCS: POSTINGS IN OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
1.
29
Thank you for your minute dated 21 August which I have just received. I attach (for you, PMD and Mr Llewellyn only) a draft submission, on which I should be grateful for your (and their) very early views: Mr Goodlad will see HMOCS representatives in Hong Kong on 7 September.
2.
I note your views on the differences between the Caribbean DTS and Hong Kong. I am inclined to think that service in Hong Kong, eg as a District Officer, even if only in the urban parts of the territory, might be more "relevant" than eg in ECD and at UKRep Brussels. But I am not sure that either of us is really in a position to make useful generalisations about whether the average Hong Kong Administrative Officer's experience is likely to be more or less useful to other DTS than the average DS officer's. Individuals are not average, eg several of the HMOCS officers interested in these postings have previously served in under-developed, sparsely populated, poor, unsophisticated and un-Oriental Pacific territories.
3. Fortunately, however, there is no need for us to make such generalisations: all we are asking is that those deciding between candidates should be permitted to consider each individual's experience and qualities on its merits, ie without a prejudice in favour of DS candidates.
Max.
N J Cox
dts.wiad.25aug/HMOCS
njc
CONFIDENTIAL
MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE