REF.
15/0
CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No.31
3 APK 1974
29/2
10K/9/2
Jean Andrew,
15
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
LAST
15th March, 1974.
Mrs Lauranc
what now?
REF.
NEXT
REF.
Thank you for your letter of the 5th March about a possible replacement for Jack Canning. I confirm that your record of my conversation with Miss Deas contains the significant points; perhaps you have by now seen a copy of my attached letter to Thornton of the 21st February?
2.
Ina
We had not involved you, at this stage, because what I sought from Thornton was an indication of possible candidates in the U.K. without formal advertisement; we obviously cannot advertise anywhere outside the H.K. public service until we have been through the required procedure, with the Public Services Commission, in examining local candidates (i.e. within the H.K. public service). And until we have any idea of the strength of possible outside candidates, we cannot definitively say to the P.S.C. that no local candidate is acceptable. If and when we advertise, we will be as good as announcing that no local candidate is suitable; and if we then failed to get a suitable outside candidate, we would be in a mess.
3.
When therefore I have heard from Thornton the result of his informal investigations, we shall weigh his possible candidates and advise against our local possibilities. If we decide to go for an outside candidate, then I shall consult P.S.C. to get their agreement and ask you for advertisement action and so on.
I hope this explains the delicacy of the position and why we are not at this stage going into
4.
the routine procedures.
Cours
Aram
ever
C.S. 41A
(A.J. Scott)
Secretary for the Civil Service
A.C. Stuart, Esq., C.P.M., H.K. & Indian Ocean Department, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London, S.W.1.
Encl.
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