54144/45
Colonial Office,
Downing Street,
S.W. 1.
9. April, 1945.
143
Dear Mrs. Bird,
We have been reviewing with the Hong Kong Planning Unit the present state of their Establishment. The position is that the Datablishment already authorised is practically full and we have candidates in view for the two or three remaining vacancies.
We are now satisfied that the time has come for the Unit to embark on planning for a further range of subjects and to increase the staff already engaged on some of the work which is already in hand. I enclose a list of the additional posts which we are satisfied are now required. Although the posts are shown with a military grading, the intention is of course that, for the present, staff should be recruited on the civilian equivalent of those posts in accordance with our recognised arrangements.
These proposals have also been considered by the Civil Affairs Directorate of the War Office who assure us that while, of course, responsibility for a War Establishment rests with the ar Establishment Committee, the proposed increase in the present approved Establishment is reasonable and would be supported by the Civil Affairs Directorate when the creation of a War Establishment for the Unit is taken up.
It has taken us some time to review the whole position with the Hong Kong Unit and we are satisfied that some of this planning is already overdue.
MRS. A.I. BIRD.
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