GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.
FRI 12 NOV 93 68:20
PG.08
Annex 'I'
CONFIDENTIAL
LASG Paper 22/93
Adaptation of Laws - Crown Agents
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Crown Agents were first established in 1833 by the
Secretary of State for the Colonies, then Mr. Stanley, later the
Earl of Derby, to act as agents for the procurement of goods and
services for colonial Administrations. At that time, the Crown
Agents formed párt of the general machinery of Crown Colony
government and were necessarily subject to the instructions of the
Secretary of State. They were
were allowed,
allowed, especially in financial
matters, considerable discretion in transacting a Colony's business.
2.
Thereafter there was a gradual change in their
constitutional role as a result of the emergence of self-government
in a number of colonies. The Secretary of State for the Colonies
distanced himself from the Crown Agents, who would receive their
instructions direct from the colonial governments.
Queen approved the change of name from "Crown
Colonies" to the "Crown Agents for Oversea
Administrations".
In 1954, the
Agents for the
Governments and
3.
Colonies
In 1966 the post of the Secretary of State for the
was absorbed into the Commonwealth office. In October
1968, the Commonwealth Office further merged with the Foreign
Office. A new era began for the Crown Agents. They were appointed
CANETACHTIN