TNAG-2041-FCO40-2906-Overseas-visits-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 125

FCO Circular No: 150/90

Date:

DISTRIBUTION:

All Heads of Mission and

Governors of Dependent Territories

Heads of Department and above

For information:

All Assistant Under-Secretaries

All Heads of Department

6 June 1990

ABSENCES FROM POST BY HEADS OF MISSION

1.

The procedures whereby Heads of Mission seek agreement for absences from post were re-stated in Mr Logan's circular 318/87 of 26 November 1987. These procedures are cumbersome and some of you clearly find them unnecessarily restrictive or inconvenient.

The procedures have accordingly been revised, and I hope you will find the new ones are an improvement.

2.

3.

For absences of up to four days: Heads of Mission intending to make short trips out of the country of their accreditation, whether on leave or duty, should send a telegram headed "Charge of Mission", giving details of their trip, dates, reason for it, the name of the officer who will be in charge of the mission, and the Head of Mission's contact address and telephone number. This telegram must reach desks three working days before the proposed absence. It will be distributed according to the revised Charge of Mission distribution list (attached). Each recipient will consider whether he/she has any objection to the absence and be responsible for telling the Head of Mission directly by telegram if the absence is not approved. The Head of Mission can assume that if, by the day before his/her intended absence, no objection had been received from London, the journey could proceed.

4.

For absences of more than four days: Heads of Mission should give not less than ten working days' notice (longer if possible) by sending a telegram headed "Charge of Mission". This should contain all the details required for short absences (paragraph 3 above). Heads of Mission Section will, as now, co-ordinate a reply: the journey is not approved until that reply has been received.

5.

Other points: However long Heads of Mission intend to be away, they must draw to the attention of the relevant

DRAAAF