TNAG-1548-FCO40-2112-Future-of-the-Hong-Kong-public-service-1986 — Page 137

A

SECRET

GRS 550

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 280900Z FCO

TELNO 2663

OF 28070OZ NOVEMBER 85

HONG KONG PUBLIC SERVICE : SENIOR APPOINTMENTS

WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING OUR STAFFING ARRANGEMENTS AT THE SENIOR LEVELS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS OR

SO IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, WHICH

NECESSITATE COMPLETE LOCALISATION AT THE SECRETARY LEVEL BY 1997.

2. UNDER THE PRESENT SCHEME RETIREMENT AGE IS SET AT 55. BUT I AL

1981 ALL EXPATRIATE OFFICERS WERE GIVEN AN EXPECTATION (BUT NOT

A COMMITMENT) THAT THEY COULD EXPECT TO HAVE EXTENSIONS, ON

CONTRACT UP TO 60, (ON A TWO YEAR, PLUS TWO YEAR, PLUS ONE YEAR

BASIS) DRAWING PENSION AS WELL AS SALARY FOR THE FIVE YEARS

EXTENSION. WE PROPOSE TO CONTINUE A SYSTEM FOR EXTENSIONS OF SERVICE

BUT MODIFIED TO PROVIDE THAT OFFICERS WILL RETIRE AT 55, RECEIVE THEIR COMMUTED PENSION GRATUITY, AND THEN CONTINUE FOR FIVE YEARS

ON A SALARY ONLY BASIS. THE PROPOSED NEW PENSION SCHEME ALSO

PROVIDES FOR SERVICE TO THE AGE OF 60. WE HAVE ACCORDINGLY EXAMINED

THE LIKELY COMPOSITION OF THE 18 POSTS IN THE SECRETARY PANK OVER

THE COMING YEARS ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE GENERALITY OF OFFICERS

WILL WISH TO SERVE ON FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

3. ON THIS BASIS AND ASSUMING THE APPLICATION OF NORMAL

PROMOTION CRITERIA, IT IS PROBABLE THAT THE RATIO OF LOCAL TO

OVERSEAS OFFICERS AT THE SECRETARY LEVEL WOULD BE IN THE REGION OF

4:14 IN 1990, 10:8 IN 1993/34 AND 12:6 IN 1997. THIS MEANS THAT

THERE WOULD STILL BE TOO MANY EXPATRIATES IN 1997, AND THE IP DEPARTURE AT THAT TIME WOULD BE DISRUPTIVE. IN ANY CASE, WE SHOULD

MAKE AN EARLIER START IN ORDER TO GIVE LOCAL OFFICERS EXPERIENCE

AT THE TOP SO THAT LOCALISATION CAN TAKE PLACE MOPE GRADUALLY AND

PROGRESSIVELY.

SECRET

14.