TNAG-1548-FCO40-2112-Future-of-the-Hong-Kong-public-service-1986 — Page 132

GRS 450

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 237

OF 22065OZ JANUARY 86

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

SECRET

MIPT: HONG KONG PUBLIC SERVICE : SENIOR APPOINTMENTS

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PROPOSED SPEAKING NOTE TO INFORM THE CHINESE

OF MODIFICATIONS TO POLICY ON SERVICE BEYOND THE AGE OF 55 IN THE

HONG KONG ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE.

2. BEGINS.

THE EMBASSY WISHES TO INFORM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF

A FORTHCOMING CHANGE IN HONG KONG ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICE.

THE NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE IN THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE IS 55. HOWEVER SINCE 1981 IT HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE TO GRANT EXTENSIONS OF

SERVICE, SUBJECT TO PHYSICAL FITNESS AND EFFICIENCY, UP TO THE AGE OF 60. IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE IN PARTICULAP THERE HAS BEEN A TENDENCY TO APPROVE APPLICATIONS FOR SUCH EXTENSION OF SERVICE. WHERE OFFICERS HAVE LEFT BEFORE THE AGE OF 60 THIS HAS

NORMALLY BEEN OF THEIR OWN VOLITION. UNDER SECTION IV OF ANNEX OF THE JOINT DECLARATION IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO HAVE LOCAL OFFICERS IN POST AT THE SECRETARY RANK (OR EQUIVALENT) IN 1997. WE NEED ALSO TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF LOCAL OFFICERS GAINING EXPERIENCE IN THE RANKS BELOW SECRETARY WHO CAN

MOVE UP IN DUE COURSE. THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE IS THE

PREDOMINANT SOURCE OF OFFICERS TO FILL POSTS AT THE

SECRETARY LEVEL.

IN THE NEAR FUTURE WE INTEND TO INTRODUCE A MODEST ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURE AIMED AT PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF LOCAL

OFFICERS IN VERY SENIOR POSTS. IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO FOLLOW THIS

GRADUAL APPROACH THAN TO POSTPONE MATTERS UNTIL LATER AND THEN

BE OBLIGED TO TAKE MORE DRASTIC ACTION. WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE

NEED FOR STABILITY AND CONTINUITY IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

OUR INTENTION IS THAT AS FROM 1 MARCH 1986 OVERSEAS MEMBERS OF THE

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE SHOULD STILL BE ELIGIBLE TO EXTEND THEIR SERVICE BEYOND THE AGE OF 55, BUT ONLY UP TO THE AGE OF 57, WHEREAS LOCAL OFFICERS MAY STILL GO ON TO 60. THE COMPOSITION OF

THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE IS SUCH THAT THIS WILL HAVE THE EFFECT

OF GRADUALLY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF LOCAL OFFICERS IN TOP POSTS.

WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THERE IS AN ADEQUATE POOL OF ABLE AND

EXPERIENCED LOCAL OFFICERS TO MEET THIS SITUATION.

THESE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD NOT HAVE ANY SUDDEN IMPACT. THE NUMBERS

AFFECTED ARE SMALL. WE ARE ALREADY CONTRACTUALLY COMMITTED TO

ALLOWING A FEW (1.E. ABOUT EIGHT) OVERSEAS OFFICERS TO SERVE BEYOND 57. WE WOULD HONOUR THESE COMMITMENTS. THERE WOULD IN ANY CASE BE PROVISION TO ALLOW AN OVERSEAS OFFICER EXCEPTIONALLY TO

/STAY

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