GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.
FRI 1 NOV 22 We120
P.06
CONFIDENTIAL
Annex T
LASG Paper 22/93
Adaptation of Laws Crown Agents
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
by the
The Crown Agents were first established in 1833 by
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, 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.
In 1954, the
change of name from "Crown Agents for the
the "Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and
Queen approved the
Colonies"
to
Administrations".
In 1966 the post of the Secretary of State for the
Colonies was absorbed
into the Commonwealth office. In October
3.
1968, the Commonwealth office further merged with the Foreign
A new era began for the Crown Agents. They were appointed
Office.
CRANEIDENTIM