17-9-484
14 To thing Kong tel N0986.
See lift offer to J (Hayward on 63994 A
Aft. on 56912 C.RIT TO H.K
+ tel to Excom
น
tel.now.
63994 FA16
To Nyasaland
El
sow. 215
N0404
6.9.48
21.9.48
17 To H.K.
tel No. 1022
2-10.68
Ory. on 56912 C. R. 18
H.K.
bel 921
7.10.48
(Action
M
(18) ins
is proceeding
dw
56912 CR)
Orig on 63994 E.A. 19 Nyasaland
56912 C.R. 20 Her
Tel 664
19.10.48
Tel 954
20.10.48
Alt...
•
21 H.K
Tel. Saw. 277
Stall
10-11.468
-27051/47/8 22 HPLC.
Tel Sav. (18/
25.11.48
Mr. King.
Mr. Palmer.
Mr.W.I. 7. Wallace.
י
1. When the despatch at (5) on the 1947 file was received it was not thought an opportune moment to approach the Treasury with the proposal for a substantial increase in the establishment of administrative officers in "ong Kong and, with the concurrence of Hong Kong, the despatch was put into "cold storage" until a core promitious occasion for its consideration presented. It is apparent from paragraph 2 of (3) and paragraph 2 of (9) on this file that Hong Kong expect us to take the initiative in reviving this despatch and it is in fact nec nary that we should do so now since it has a bearing on a prononal for an increase in the establishment of gazetted Police officers, under conson. on 54247/5/48. There is, I think, no reason why we should not consider this proposed increase in the establishment of Administrative Officers in advance of the investigations which Mr.Rose, the efficiency expert is to make when he visits Hong Kong about April next year. It is proposed to spread recruitment for the additional posts which may be approved over a number of years and it would therefore be possible to halt the process if, as a result of Mr. Roos's recommendations this appeared desirable.
2. Taking into account an additional post in connection with the defence matters which was recently approved, the present establishment of administrative officers in Hong Kong, apart from
the
Page
Page
23
the Colonial Secretary, is 36. I have placed opposite a note showing how this total is made up. In his despatch at (6) on the 1947 file the Governor recommended that the establishment of 35, as it then was, should be increased over a number of years to a total of 48. The total increase of 13 posts can, I think, be regarded as deriving from the following three factors each of which may be considered separately:-
3.
(a) a recalculation of the leave reserve factor necessitated by recent modifications
(b)
(c)
in conditions of service }
an increase in the minimum number of
administrative posts
CA from 26 (for which an establishment of 35 officers was originally sufficient) to 30,
the need to provide leave replacements for 7 other than administrative posts for which no provision is made in any other establishment.
So far as (a) is concerned there seems to be only one point which presents any difficulty. In making the recalculation of the leave reserve fraction
see enclosure 1 to despatch at (6) on the 1947 file_7 Hong Kong included factors for local leave and language study and in paragraph 4 of the letter at (7) on the 17 file we explained that there could not properly be counted. Hong Kong appear to have accepted this ruling so far as local leave is concerned but, in paragraphs 7 and 8 of his letter at () on this file, Mr. MacDougall has explained the special reasons why, in the case of Hong Kong, language study must come into the calculation of leave reserve.
If
The case he has put forward seems to me sound and I think we should concede the point. this is agreed, we can, I think, approve a revised leave reserve fraction calculated on the same lines as in the enclosure to Hong Kong's despatch but omitting the local leave fa tor and making the adjustments necessary as a result of the new rule extending the privilege of a shorter tour and more favourable leave rate to officers over the age of 40 with 10 years service. This fraction, which by my calculation would be 1.4 instead of 1.48 as originally calculated, would be applicable to both administrative officers and gazetted Police Officers. (see minute on 5421:7/6/48).
4.
}
With regard to (b) above, in proposing an increase in the minimum number of administrative posts from 26 (the number for which an establishment of 35 was originally sufficient) to 30, the Governor has been careful to explain that this is a conservative estimate of the probable needs of the public service and one which will leave a safe murgin for recalculation,
particularly since the increase is to be spread
over a period of about 4 or 5 years. As indic ted in
paragraph
age 10
age 10Page 11