TNAG-1203-FCO40-1505-Policy-on-visas-and-entry-certificates-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 133

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4.9

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4.8.5 The higher authority to decide the selection varies according to the seniority of the vacancy to be filled. For a technical or professional post, the decision can be reached by agreement between the ODM Recruitment Executive and the DT geographical Department. For higher Administrative appointments and senior Legal and Judicial appointments, the submission is made to an Assistant Under-Secretary of State in the FCO. Certain very senior appointments in DTs are decided by the Dependent Territories Senior Appointments Board (see Chapter 3-and by

the appropiates DS

4.8.6

Annex 4). Secretary of State advised selechon Bodid.

The responsibility for carrying out the procedure for offers (para 4.9) after the selection has been made rests with the Section or Department which carried out the selection process; but the DT geographical Department dealing with the receiving Government ensures that that procedure is carried out.

4.9

4.9.1

4.9.2

4.9.3

4.9.4

4.9.5

4.9.6

OFFERS OF TRANSFER

Every offer of transfer is subject to the agreement of the OAG of the DT under whom the officer is serving. Any communication asking the OAG to make the offer of transfer should take this into account. If the OAG raises an objection, the whole question of the selection may have to be reconsidered, although the OAG's objection will not necessarily be sustained.

The offer of transfer is either made through the OAG under whom the officer is serving or, if the officer is in the UK, by a letter to him; in which case the OAG of the Territory must first be asked if he has objections.

The offer of transfer must give full particulars of the conditions of service, emoluments, pension arrangements etc, attached to the appointment and should include any other information likely to be useful to the officer in deciding whether or not to accept the offer.

The OAG of the Territory to whom the officer is to be transferred should be notified of the selection at the earliest possible date. Where the officer proceeds on leave before the transfer, the OAG of the Territory from which he is transferred should be notified of the date of transfer.

Save in very exceptional circumstances, there should be no premature disclosure of the intention to offer a transfer to an officer. There may occasionally be grounds for an early "sounding" of an officer who happens to be in the UK. If so, the DT geographical Department must first obtain the consent of the OAG of the Territory in which the officer is serving for that sounding to be made and must thereafter get authority from an Assistant Under-Secretary of State. Premature soundings, whether in a DT or in the UK, can have unfortunate consequences.

For important appointments such as Chief Secretaries, Chief Justices etc, arrangements are made through News Department to ensure that any

public announcements appear simultaneously in the UK and in the DTs concerned.

4.9.7 The leave and passage arrangements for transfers are governed by Colonial Regulations 86 - 91.

October 1978

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