TNAG-0694-FCO40-844-Inspection-of-Hong-Kong-Department-1977 — Page 65

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Mr Stewart, HKD

Mr Lewis, GGD

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Chief Inspector

DEPENDENT TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATIVE, LEGAL AND JUDICIAL STAFFING UNIT

You and others will have had Mr Hall's paper about the nit, with Mr Lewis' covering minute of 24 March suggesting that it might move under POD's wing, by the end of this year. I do not think this idea should be pursued at present.

2.

I assume that it is not intended to disturb the present plan for HKD to take over the Unit and GGD's General Section when SED takes over the Gibraltar Section. I understand that the Secretary of State is considering the PUS's recommendation that these moves should be carried out during April. As you know, Mr. Cortazzi is anxious for the IKD part of the reorganisation to take place as soon as possible. 3. It would be undesirable to threaten the Unit with another move in a few months time, after a period of prolonged uncertainty. HKD will provide a very suitable home for it, not only because of the Hong Kong preponderance in its area of responsibility, but also because its management job should be closely linked withthe constitu- tional planning which is one of the General Section's jobs. propose asking Mr Stewart, when he takes over the two sections, to make a further assessment of the staffing requirements of the Dependencies, and of the sources of supply available to meet these. He would draw on the material in Mr Hall's paper, which I do not think the last word.

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4. I shall be surprised if this assessment indicates that thẹ DS can ever provide significantly more than the present tiny proportion of the Administrative complement, or any of the Legal and Judicial complement, in the Dependencies. There would be advantages all round in increasing the DS contribution to the maximum, but still very modest, extent practicable. I certainly agree about the importance of the Unit, wherever located, keeping in close touch with POD on the complementing side and with PSD on the conditions of service side. But none of this adds up to an obvious case for moving the Unit into Curtis Green at any particular time.

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31 March 1977

HSH Stanley

TYRAPE TU QOMIDIROR