TNAG-0289-FCO40-325-Departmental-briefs-on-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 186

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in the light of changing requirements. In the course of this he has undertaken a comprehensive tour of the territories in the West Indies, to examine conditions on the spot. This review is still not complete, but as part of it a further team consisting of two senior officers from the Overseas Development Administration are

starting in February a tour of the Western Pacific dependencies in order to examine the effectiveness of the present machinery for the recruitment of expatriate civil servants, with particular reference to the terms and conditions of service now being offered.

12. Meanwhile, at home it has been decided to set up a new department in the office to deal specifically with general problems affecting the dependent territories as a whole. The final shape of the new department is not yet settled, but it will absorb the existing section dealing with administrative staff recruitment, and in addition will deal, in consultation with the Overseas Development Administration, with terms and conditions of service for the whole body of expatriate overseas civil servants. It will also handle, inter alia, the complex economic and financial problems arising from differential rates of taxation, property development and the like. The establishment of this now department

will help to preserve what remains of the body of expertise inherited

from the Colonial Office. This was partially dispersed following the

original merger between the Colonial Office and the Commonwealth

Relations Office, and has continued to decline through natural wastage.

5.