CONFIDENTIAL
3
The Government
rema ins firmly
committed to the
localisation policy. The two major tenets of the policy
i.e. giving priority and preference to local candidates
on recruitment, and not renewing the contract of an
Overseas officer if a suitable local replacement is
available, will remain unchanged.
Defensive line to take
The Chinese side was made aware in informal contacts of
our decision before it was publicly announced last
Friday.
[If pressed We did not raise this with them on formal
ie through JLG or the PA'S
channels,
office.]
[If pressed on Bill of Rights angle
-
Whether the old policy conforms with the Bill of Rights
or not is now academic. The fact is that there are good
reasons to change the policy. We should look at this on
its own merits.]