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Rank of HK Commissioner in London under review
Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau Wai-hing and a written reply by the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mr T H Chau, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council whether -
(a) there is any plan to downgrade the post of Hong Kong Commissioner, London (D8 on the Directorate Pay Scale) by several ranks when the incumbent retires next year; if so, to what level it will be downgraded and what is the justification for doing so; and
(b)
the post of Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA will similarly be regraded downward upon the retirement of the present incumbent; if not, what the reasons are?
Reply:
The Government is progressively restructuring the London Office with a view to turning it into an economic and trade office by 1997. We see no justification for retaining the post of Hong Kong Commissioner, London, at the current D8 rank on the completion of the re-structuring in late 1996 or early 1997, at which time the London Office will have relinquished those of its traditional functions which are not directly related to trade and economic matters. The future rank of the post is under review and, while no decision has yet been taken, it will certainly be lower than D8.
The considerations which are relevant to the case of the London Office are clearly not applicable in respect of the United States. No change in the role of our economic and trade offices in the USA is envisaged and we do not have any plans to re-grade the post of Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs in the USA.
End/Wednesday, February 22, 1995