TNAG-1548-FCO40-2112-Future-of-the-Hong-Kong-public-service-1986 — Page 78

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their uncertain future. If, in your opinion, it would be desirable to keep the existing expatriate Agreement Officers up to 1997 and beyond you might find that these people will not be in Hong Kong

when you need them. If you do not make your views known now, it may be too late as 1997 approaches. As an increased pace of localisation results in non-

renewal of contracts, those remaining will leave,

voluntarily, in ever increasing numbers. In our

opinion a large, sudden exodus of expatriate civil

servants would not be in the best interest of the

́service or Hong Kong generally.

It is our view that because the existing Agreement Officers have considerable knowledge and local experience which is beneficial to Hong Kong they should be allowed to remain with Government. Our

numbers are only a small percentage of the total employed and with the natural processes of retirement, return to countries of origin and changing jobs we would not unacceptably block the promotion of local officers generally. The full terms of the localisation policy could be applied to any new expatriates recruited into the civil service thereby ensuring that our numbers would reduce eventually but in an orderly manner. There is doubt about future job prospects and terms and conditions of service and separately there is an even greater concern that Agreement Officers may not be

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