TNAG-1548-FCO40-2112-Future-of-the-Hong-Kong-public-service-1986 — Page 126

[COLAMT]

SECRET

Sonorary of

дорой

FROM:

A M Layden

Private Secretary

Urbayden

The Secretan "

DATE: 24 January 1986

sent

2711

(2)

fraze

afres

intreru

27/i

HKK 256/

LECEIVED IN REGISTRY

27 JAN1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

1.

REGISTRY

Action Tak.c

1.

Langsten

the now need

rel autunning

+

бо

Peking to fo

ahead

CC

M. 27%.

PS/Mr Rent on

Sir W Harding

Dr Wilson

Mr Fifoot, Legal Adviser

HONG KONG PUBLIC SERVICE: LOCALISATION: SENIOR APPOINTMENTS

Problem

The Sino-British

provides that the

Joint Declaration

future

Region Government ma y

non-Chinese) as Heads

of

Hong Kong

not employ

(Annex I, Section IV)

Special Administrative

foreign nationals (ie

Branches ог major Departments after

1997. Some adjustment is need ed to the localisation policies

of the Hong Kong Government to avoid a damaging break in the

continuity of the Civil Service in 1997. But it is important

that we should proceed at a pace that will not harm the overall

quality and stability of the service. The Hong Kong Government

have put forward proposals which seem well judged to achieve

these aims, and they have been agreed by EXCO. HKG would like

to tell the staff involved about the proposals on 3 February.

2.

The Chinese Government have shown sensitivity in this area.

They are concerned that any changes brought about in order to

implement the Joint Declaration should not threaten stability

in Hong Kong, and that expatriate officers in the lower and

medium grades of the Hong Kong Civil Service should not be

discouraged from staying оп after 1997. The Governor has

recommended, and HM Ambassador at Peking has agreed, that we

should inform the Chinese Government, in a I ow-key manner,

about the proposed changes before there is any chance of their

becoming public knowledge.

SECRET