TNAG-1428-FCO40-1911-Future-of-the-Hong-Kong-public-service-1985 — Page 74

CONFIDENTIAL #

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

Report of the Civil Service Branch for the period 1 February to 30 April 1985

Future Arrangements for the Public Service

During the quarter the Executive Council agreed

to stop the recruitment of overseas officers on pensionable

terms; a circular announcing this decision has issued and

amendments to Civil Service Regulations are to be made. The opportunity has been given to serving expatriate

agreement officers to apply to convert to pensionable terms

within the currency of their agreements or by 31 March 1986

whichever is the later. Existing criteria for such conversions will be applied.

2.

Consideration is being given to identify what

measures need to be taken to preserve the independence of

the Judiciary post 1997 and to attract more local people into the Judiciary. This includes an examination of the

role and functions of the Judicial Service Commission.

Participation by Civil Servants in Public Election and Political Activities

30

After careful consideration the Administration

has decided that the present restrictions on civil servants standing for public election should be maintained and be

reviewed in the context of the overall review of political

development scheduled for 1987. The decision has been

passed to staff side who took the decision calmly. Some civil service union leaders have indicated that they will

petition the Government to relax the rules in 1987 but it

is unlikely that the unions will resort to any drastic

action.

/Mood and

G.F. 326

CONFIDENTIAL #