TNAG-0694-FCO40-844-Inspection-of-Hong-Kong-Department-1977 — Page 137

Chief Clerk

CONFIDENTIAL

1

2

TRANSFER OF GIBRALTAR INTERNAL SECTION FROM GIBRALTAR AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT TO SOUTHERN EUROPEAN DEPARTMENT

1.

There has been extensive minuting on the Inspector's recommendation that the Gibraltar internal section of Gibraltar and General Department be transferred to SED. Although there is general agreement on the move, submissions to the FUS and Minister has been deferred until the geographical departments considered it appropriate to do so on political grounds. They now believe we can go ahead. I there submit:

2.

(a)

(b)

a draft minute from you to the FUS on administrative aspects of the move. G & GD, SED, Home Inspector and ODM agree;

a copy of a draft "political" submission prepared by SED and G & GD for ministerial submission.

You will see that the timing of the move has been left flexible as "early spring". There are two reasons for not specifying an actual date at this stage. Firstly, the Gibraltar Government (as distinct from the Governor) has still to be informed and the timing of this has to be carefully chosen. Secondly, it would be convenient for the new Assistant in SED to settle in before the Department takes on Gibraltar work. be in situ by mid-February.

He will

3. If the move can take place sooner than "early spring" 30 much the better. There are weighty administrative arguments for trying to achieve this. Firstly, the future of Gibraltar and General Department has been under discussion for more than a year and this uncertainty is bad for morale. And, secondly, since Hong Kong Department were relieved of Indian Ocean Territories responsibilities last July their present workload hardly justifies their existence as a separate department until they absorb the "rump" of Gibraltar and General Department.

10 January 1977

CC

fr Lewis, GGD

P W Unwin

Personnel Policy Department

Mr Winchester, SED

Ir Morgan, Home Inspector

Mr Start, HKD✓

Mike to dr. Sreway-

CONFIDENTIAL

ith.