TNAG-0594-FCO40-740-Staffing-in-the-Dependent-Territories-in-the-1980s-1977 — Page 143

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

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Sources of recruitment of Administrative officers

5. The supply of experienced HMOCS or ex HMOCS manpower to fill senior or middle level administrative appointments in DTS, other than Hong Kong where there is still a career structure, is declining. HMOCS officers with experience in Executive and Legislative Council procedures, finance and development, local government etc are now mostly in the 50 - 60 age bracket. By careful forward planning (often a year to 18 months ahead) it is still possible to get experienced officers into the right jobs on time. This cannot go on much longer and by 1979-80 this supply could well have more or less dried up.

6. There remain two other sources of recruitment:-

(i) secondment of suitable officers outwards from the Hong Kong

Government Service;

(ii)

secondment from the Diplomatic Service and HCS.

{

7. Hong Kong Government. The Hong Kong Government will continue to need a leavening of overseas administrative officers and to counter the inward looking tendencies of Hong Kong. Over 50 graduates, and experienced expatriate administrative officers have been recruited to Hong Kong since 1970 besides DS and HCS secondments out of a total of 122 administrative officers. Graduate level recruitment can in future be undertaken by the Hong Kong Government office, but under FCO control, (eg, final selection by the Secretary of State with suitable FCO representatives on the Selection Board). No overseas graduate recruitment was undertaken by Hong Kong for 1976/77 but resumption of recruitment is probable for 1977/78 so that selected candidates take up appointments in September 1978.

8. The Hong Kong Government has on occasions in the past agreed to the secondment of one or two of their administrative officers to other Dependent Territories, (for example, G P Lloyd as Deputy Governor, Bermuda; A T Clark as Deputy Governor, Solomon Islands). Such secondments can be of value to Hong Kong in widening the experience of their officers. The first major impediment is the reluctance of officers in the 35 - 45 age bracket to leave Hong Kong,where the salaries are far higher, for 2 - 3 years secondment, when personal commitments such as schooling are likely at their peak.

Cary, Secondly the pension contribution of 25% of Hong Kong/to be borne by the receiving territory, or in the case of Governors, by HMG, is high. The CSD has not yet responded to our request to agree to the payment of 25% pension contribution to Hong Kong from UK funds for any Hong Kong officer selected for appointment on secondment as Governor. A number of experienced HMOCS candidates for Governorships will be effectively trapped in Hong Kong unless suitable terms of service can be devised.

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Secondment of DS and HCS officers to Dependent Territories

9. Diplomatic Service Officers are considered for appointment to vacancies of Governors as they occur. Six out of 14 posts at the DS 4 level and above are filled by DS officers. The trend inevitably will be a gradual increase as the numbers of HMOCS officers decline. However, the number of DS officers with former HMOCS experience will decline as well and the time may come when DS officers without HMOCS experience but with other wider experience and the right personal quality will be appointed. A number of DS officers have been seconded to the DTs for service below the level of Governor. A group of some 5 6 at the DS 4/5 level were seconded to Hong Kong some years ago. A DS 6 is in the Solomon Islands, a DS 7 is in the

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

/Gilbert

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