TNAG-0996-FCO40-1219-Inspection-of-Hong-Kong-and-General-Department--February-198-1981 — Page 24

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE

HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT

REPORT BY MR F B WHEELER

FEBRUARY 1981

PART I

Terms of Reference

1.

I was required "to review the responsibilities, organisation and establishment of the Hong Kong and General Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and to recommend any changes that would assist in a more effective and efficient discharge of its responsibilities". With the help of Registrar's Branch of Library and Records Department, Management Services Section of the Inspectorate and of Security Department, I carried out the inspection in February 1981. The inspection formed part of a review of the Asian departments.

Establishment

2. follows:

The authorised establishment and actual complement of HKGD is as

1 x DS4

1 x DS5S

Head of Department

Assistant

1 x DS5

Desk Officer

2 x DS7E

Desk Officer

1 x DS8

Desk Officer

1 x DS9

Desk Officer

3 x DS10/CO

3 x S2/3

Registry Clerks

Secretaries

Total 13

3.

The Head of the Hong Kong Section, DS5 equivalent, is an officer seconded from the HK Government. A DS7E post in the Hong Kong Section is currently held by a Senior Research Officer. A former DS5 is employed two days a week on a fec-paid basks as an adviser in the General Section.

Responsibilities, Organisation and Workload

4.

The Department advises the Secretary of State in exercising general responsibility for the external and internal affairs of Hong Kong. Although there is no elected legislature in the Territory its Government has a

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ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE