TNAG-1554-FCO40-2118-Hong-Kong-Control-of-Publications-Consolidation-Ordinance-19-1986 — Page 106

Localisation

I turn now to the Civil Service.

Mr. Poon

and Mr. Sohmen have cautioned against the acceleration of localisation at the expense of a For a long stable and efficient public service.

Our

time to come there will be a place in the civil service for both local and overseas officers. policy has been to ensure that the civil service is staffed to meet the growing demands placed on it, and to recruit from overseas only when local

expertise is not available.

But localisation has become an emotive

word and in the past few weeks both local and expatriate civil service associations have expressed their views. Understandably both have the interests of their members at heart. The expatriates argue that the Government is tightening up the criteria on the renewal of contracts and transfers to the permanent establishment, whilst local officers express concern that overseas officers are promoted even though there are local officers ready to fill the appointments. Both urge Government to change.

its criteria.

Our long established policy is to give preference to local candidates on recruitment when they are available and to recruit overseas officers to fill an interim shortage in fields where local expertise is not available. At the same time, steps have been taken to improve the local supply of trained staff and to provide opportunities through

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