CO129-602-2 General orders relating to government quarters and rent allowance 6-1-1948 - 29-6-1949 — Page 21

RESTRICTED.

File No.4467/47.

Colonial Secretariat,

Hong Kong,

8th June, 1949.

SECRETARIAT ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 31.

Revision of Secretariat Organisation

Mr. R. J. Minnitt has been appointed to take charge of the Defence Branch of the Secretariat with the title of Defence Secretary. His appointment will be

gazetted in due course. Mr. Holmes has been appointed Deputy Defence Secretary.

2. The position of the Deputy Colonial Secretary is unchanged by these

appointments. He will remain Head of the Secretariat Department and will be

directly responsible to the Colonial Secretary for all branches of the Secretariat

with the exception of Finance Branch which will remain under the control of the

Deputy Financial Secretary. For administrative purposes the Deputy Colonial

Secretary remains Head of Department in respect of all branches including

Finance Branch.

3. The recommendations contained in the report of the Organisation and Methods Adviser on Secretariat Organisation are now under consideration.

As a first

step revised nomenclature on the lines proposed by Mr. Ross will be introduced forthwith. The basis of these changes is that the old designation of Assistant Colonial Secretary is to be abolished and that with certain exceptions, adminis- trative officers will now be known as Assistant Secretaries. Each Assistant Secretary will have a distinguishing number, the sole purpose of which is to indicate the group of subjects for which that officers is responsible.

4.

A chart showing the revised organisation of the Secretariat and the new

titles of Assistant Secretaries is attached for information. The subject groups for A.S. 1 and 2 shown on this chart are those recommended by Mr. Ross. They do not correspond with the present duties of these officers, but when a re- allocation of duties is possible, it is intended that Mr. Ross' recommendations in this respect should be fully implemented.

5.

Secretariat Office Instruction No. 22 of 3rd June is cancelled.

By Command,

To:

Heads of Departments.

J.F. NICOLL, Colonial Secretary.