No. 4169/46
Copied to:
Governor, Singapore.
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 290.
Sir,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG.
6.9
6.
13/4:
25th
November, 1948.
(5)
Enclosure.
the vis
(5)
I have the honour to refer to correspondence ending with your priority confidential Savingram No.735 of 28th July, 1948, on the subject of the establishment of a Public Services Commission.
2.
I am anxious to set up this Commission as soon as possible and have therefore considered the matter without waiting for the memorandum which you say is in preparation for the guidance of Colonial Governments. As a result of this consideration and with the advice of the Executive Council I have caused a draft bill to be prepared, a copy of which is enclosed. In your confidential despatch No.66 of 10th March, 1948, you approved the establishment of a Public Services Commission subject to further consideration being given to certain points raised by you. I will now refer to these points and explain how it is proposed that the Commission should exercise its functions.
3.
It is not intended that the Commission shall be closely concerned with the interpretation and application of conditions of service. Action has been initiated to introduce a modified form of Whitleyism in this Colony, and it is hoped that regular consultations between representa- tives of the Civil Service and officers of this Government will solve most problems which arise in connection with general conditions of service. But the Commission's experience in connection with appointments, etc., will enable it to offer valuable advice to Government concerning conditions of service, and it is my intention to profit by this advice. Provision has therefore been included in the draft bill for the Commission to advise on such matters either mero motu or at the request of Government.
4.
With regard to the suggestion that not all vacancies should be remitted to the Commission for recommendations, I suggest, with respect, that it would be wrong in principle and contrary to the policy set out in Colonial Office Paper 197 to reserve certain posts, or a proportion of posts in certain classes, for overseas candidates. In my opinion, which is shared by my advisers, the procedure should be, when any vacancy occurs, to survey first the local field for likely candidates. It would naturally be the duty of the Commission and of the Government to ensure that a candidate is not accepted simply because he is a local resident. The standards must be kept high and paper qualifications which might be adequate but which are unaccompanied by complete suitability in all other respects, particularly in regard to character and practical ability, would not be considered sufficient. Such extra qualifications are admittedly hard to assess on first appointment, but it should be possible for Govern- ment to maintain standards of efficiency by a rigorous application of the rule regarding probation. There may sometimes in the past have been a wrong but understandable hesitation to terminate the probation of an officer, particularly one from overseas; but my intention is to watch with great care the period of probation of every officer, and not to keep those who are below standard. Of course, for a locally domiciled officer the effects, financial and otherwise, of termination of probation are less serious than for an expatriate officer.
5.
The production of suitable candidates for professional and other higher class appointments is, I suggest, easier in this Colony than in many others and any shortage there may be here at present is probably due to
absence of/
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
ARTHUR CREECH JONES M.P.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.