TNAG-0712-FCO40-899-Policy-on-salary-and-allowances-for-Governors-1979 — Page 56

CODE 18. 17

LAST

REI

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

Reference..HKA 434/1

RECEIVED

1 1 MAY 1978

DESK OFFICE ·

INDEX

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PA

Mr Green

NEM

REF.

SALARY, ALLOWANCES AND PASSAGES OF GOVERNORS

1.

есе

Mr Dale and I have discussed your minute of 8 May 1978 about the possibility of the FCO taking over financial responsibility for the salaries, allowances and leave passages for Governors.

2. We agree that Governors, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Gibraltar should be excluded. These 4 DTS can at present afford to continue to pay proper salaries, allowances and the cost of leave passages and at present they have no plitical impediment that would make such payments difficult. This then leaves us with:

Anguilla Belize BVI

Falklands

Montserrat

New Hebrides:

St Helena

Turks and Caicos

The New Hebrides is included but, if as may be the case, local ministers will have no control on the financial provision for the Resident Commissioner (who is a DS officer in any case) the problem may not be applicable. There is no need to consider the Solomon Islands, Gilberts or Tuvalu because of impending independence.

3.

The present position is as follows:-

(1)

Salaries

Provision is made in the local estimates. HMOCS and Governors who are not DS officers are paid salary by the local Government (as are all local and expatriate officers on the local Civil Service establishment.). Where for financial or political reasons the local Government cannot pay salary to the level justified by the job, the FCO 'tops up' in the UK. Both local salary and 'topping up' are tax free. DS officers (except in Hong Kong and Bermuda) continue to receive their DS salary and allowances and basic salary and duty allowance in the local estimate is refunded to the FCO. DS officers pay UK Income Tax.

(2) Duty Allowance

Which covers entertainment and the general costs of putting up visitors, etc., is provided for in the local budget. Governors of some of the poorer territories have difficulty in obtaining adequate financial provision and have to dip in to their own pocket. DS officers (except in Hong Kong and Bermuda) draw appropriate DS allowances and Duty Allowance in

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

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