hir Whit
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016/1
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L2 AUG 1993
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From:
NC G Whitney
HKD The Minister has seen and approved the telegram as amended The telegram has
as amended (copy
enclosed). innegos AD 14/7
Mr Ricketts
cketys
Mr gam PS/Mr/Go
Mr Goodlad
I
(book have
agree
Hong Kong Department
Date: 14 July 1993
A3:417
spekkad” our cincamı
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clearlydı CA 197
HONG KONG: HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S LOCALISATION POLICY
A
B
C
Problem
The Hong Kong Government (HKG) have proposed amending the
localisation policy, to preempt possible court action.
Recommendation
2.
That we should agree to Hong Kong's proposal but ask them to consider whether there is any scope for delaying a
decision. I submit a draft telegram which, to meet Hong
Kong's challenging deadline, will need to go this evening.
Background and Argument
3. Mr Ricketts' submission of 13 May outlined the problem facing the HKG over their localisation policy. In brief, there is no painless solution; all of the options available
will annoy expatriate officers, local officers and the Chinese to some degree. But we concluded (and advised Hong
Kong) that it would be better to take the initiative to amend
the policy rather than wait to be defeated in court.
4. Hong Kong have advised us that the Association of
Expatriate Civil Servants (AECS) are making increasingly
credible threats of court action and that they have
identified a specific case involving an officer whose
contract expires shortly in which HKG are vulnerable.
HKG have therefore decided to consult ExCo on amending
immediately the localisation policy. This would allow
The
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