TNAG-1107-FCO40-1358-Inspection-of-the-British-Trade-Commission--Hong-Kong--in-Fe-1981 — Page 52

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE

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Second you will know from my correspondence with Stansfield flowing from the 1978 Inspectors report that an unsuccessful bid was made for the length of tour in Hong Kong to be reduced to 18 months. I have therefore marked for further reference that the points scored for Hong Kong in respect of climate put us with or below Port Louis, Rio de Janeiro, Nuku'alofa, Sao Paulo, Beirut and Alexandria, all but one of which have the benefit of home leave after 18 months. Given that until 1973 Hong Kong was classified as an unhealthy post for pension purposes and that the Hong Kong Government itself has long since conceded the principle of annual home leave, I continue to consider it unfair to regard Hong Kong in the same bracket for leave purposes as posts in Europe and North America.

DM March

Senior Trade Commissioner

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE