TNAG-0335-FCO40-371-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 40

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envisage a new UK-based administrative cadre for service in the

dependent territories. Members of this service would enjoy

as far as possible uniform grades, salary scales and terms of

service applicable in all dependent territories. These arrangements

would be underwritten by HMG and involve assistance from the

UK. The intention is that the new proposals should initially

cover new recruits to the Hong Kong Administrative Service, seconded

officers from the Diplomatic Service or the Home Civil Service,

and that at a later stage serving administrative officers would be

given an opportunity to join.

27. For the first time for a number of years 7 young Administrative

officers were recruited in the UK for Hong Kong during 1972.

We are

also currently arranging for a few secondments at a senior level from

the Diplomatic and Home Civil Service.

HONG KONG REPRESENTATION OVERSEAS

28.

In addition to the Hong Kong Government Office in London,

Hong Kong has representatives in our embassies in Washington

and Brussels, and in the Mission at Geneva. In Washington and

Geneva the officers concerned are members of the Diplomatic Service

on secondment. It is possible that members of UMELCO may ask,

as they did when Mr Rippon had lunch with them, whether similar

representation could be arranged at other posts. If so, the

Secretary of State may like to make a non-committal reply.

A number of our embassies already do a good deal of work for Hong Kong

(a good example is Tokyo, where the Commercial Department in particular

actively look after Hong Kong's interests). Whether there would be

a full-time job in any other post for a Hong Kong representative

is open to question, although specific proposals could doubtless

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