PLANNING
11. The key to the initial planning was seen to be the appointment of the senior staff who would be working in the scheme, and the first proposals to the Finance Committee were for three additional Staff Grade Administrative Officer posts. Postings were, of course, not easy but by 16th April, 1968 these three senior posts had all been filled. There was little besides the officers, and at one time four Staff Grade Officers were working in a single room with one telephone line.
12. Planning took the form of the preparation of a directive for the City District Officers and papers for the Establishment Sub-Committee and the Finance Committee setting down the staff and Other Charges requirements. The Government machine was seen at its best in this operation during which expertise in Establishment and Finance Branches, in particular, was readily made available in developing our ideas. Policy problems were aired at one of the Deputy Colonial Secretary's weekly staff meetings and several important points were there disposed of immediately. By 1st May, 1968 it was possible for the Finance Com- mittee to consider and approve the full implications of the establishment of the scheme.
13. The scheme did not start from scratch but represented a very considerable expansion of the operations of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs which had itself been expanded during the 1967 confrontation. This meant that it was possible to re-shape the existing staff structure and use existing offices to establish the first four City District Offices on 10th May, 1968.
STAFF AND other administrative matters
Staff
14. The main staff components of the system are:
1 Deputy Secretary for Chinese Affairs
2 City District Commissioners-one each side of the harbour
10 City District Officers-6 in Kowloon & 4 in Hong Kong
20 Assistant City District Officers-E.O. Class I salary scale
60 Liaison Officers-E.O. Class II salary scale and Liaison Officer Class III 30 Liaison Assistants
15. In appointments for C.D.O.s and Liaison Officers there was a reversal of past S.C.A. policy. Hitherto the view was that such officers would be permanent S.C.A. departmental staff doing the same type of
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