TNAG-0594-FCO40-740-Staffing-in-the-Dependent-Territories-in-the-1980s-1977 — Page 42

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

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Mrs Gregory

STAFFING IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES IN THE 1980S

1. Your manuscript minute of 6(!) September refers.

2. I agree with the comments you make in paragraph 2 of your minute. I recall that there was a distinct waning of interest on the part of Messrs Wiggham and Henderson when they were given details of emoluments for certain dependent territory posts in which vacancies were occurring. On the other hand, I agree that a contract officer in Hong Kong could be more attracted to service in another dependent territory than would a permanent and pensionable officer.

3. I am pretty sure that Mr Shipman, the Principal Assistant Secretary in the Social Services Branch, whom I met in Hong Kong last year, is a Home Civil Service Principal i.e. equivalent to a DS Grade 5 Officer. Certainly, Mr Blain is a DS 5 and since Mr Shipman and Mr Johnson likewise occupy Principal Assistant Secretary posts I think it is fairly clear that all three are Grade 5 equivalent officers. I believe that Mr Hall can confirm that this is the case. Principal Assistant Secretary level in Hong Kong would not, however, rule out subsequent service at the same level or at a higher level in another dependent territory.

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4. I am doubtful whether there is much point in your drawing what is said in the first half of page 3 of Mr Bridge's letter to POD's attention, at least at this stage. They will know, of course, that Mr Blain's secondment is due to end in June 1978. It should be possible to arrange for seconded officers to take the places of Mr Johnson and Mr Shipman but I would expect the Hong Kong Government to want their successors to come from Home Civil Service departments with some knowledge of the fields of work in which the Economic Services and Social Services Branches are involved. Openings might emerge in other parts of the Hong Kong administration but I can foresee the Hong Kong Government resisting the appointment of DS officers to specialised or comparatively specialised jobs dealing with purely domestic Hong Kong matters.

5. I am also hesitant about involving POD at this stage since Mr Hunter, PSD, told me at the end of last week that he was considering a draft of a letter to CSD that Mr Stewart has prepared about conditions of service for HCS/DS officers on secondment to dependent territories. I have not seen Mr Stewart's draft and am not clear therefore how it fits in with the exercise being conducted on these papers.

HKA

431/4

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D.F. Waillen

D F Milton

Hong Kong & General Department

CODE 18-77

SS 10/76

No

5 September 197

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