has been made since
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last September and try to persuade them
He will wish to make the point that we
are as keen as they are to resolve this issue satisfactorily.
to remain patient.
11. The Association of Expatriate Civil Servants (AECS) have recently challenged the HKG's localisation policy on the grounds that it contravenes the Bill of Rights and have threatened to go to court. It would play very badly with China if HKG were forced to abandon the localisation policy
because of losing a court case on grounds of the Bill of
Rights (which the Chinese loathe). The AECS are pressing for
a revision of the HKG's non-renewal of contracts policy and
for overseas officers with seven years residence in Hong Kong
to be given the option to transfer to local pensionable
terms. The HKG are considering the best way to handle this
matter. Until they reach a decision, they are taking the
line that they are considering the AECS' points; that the localisation policy remains in force and that they believe that they are administering the policy in a way’which does
not contravene the Bill of Rights. The Minister may wish to
ask the Governor about localisation and also about senior
Civil Service appointments, including the appointment of the first Chinese Chief Secretary, in succession to Sir David Ford. It has been announced that K Y Yeung will replace John Chan who will be leaving the Civil Service in June, but the
Minister might like to ask whether the Governor intends
appointing another local civil servant to replace Mr Chan on
ExCo.
JLG Issues
12. The meeting with Mr Galsworthy (Brief No 7), will be an
opportunity to review progress in the JLG. Nothing was
agreed at JLG XXV in December (not even a communique).
hum24.5/KIN/NJH
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