TNAG-2419-FCO40-3521-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 103

SECRET

HKA 233/1

SECRET FM FCO

TO DESKBY 12003OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 15

OF 11180OZ MARCH 92

AND TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING

CORRECTED VERSION:

PARA SIX`LINE 7

WORDS "HMG HAVE THEREFORE NOW"

MIPT: HMOCS: DRAFT STATEMENT FOR USE WITH THE CHINESE

BEGINS

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165071

MDHOAN 1270

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1. I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY LONDON TO BRIEF YOU ON SOME ASPECTS OF THE TERMS OF APPOINTMENT OF THOSE EXPATRIATES SERVING IN THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF HER MAJESTYS OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE (HMOCS). HMG HAVE AN HISTORICAL OBLIGATION TO MEMBERS OF HMOCS AFFECTED BY A CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, AND IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR HMG TO DISCUSS THIS SHORTLY WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OFFICERS CONCERNED IN HONG KONG. MY AUTHORITIES WISH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO BE AWARE OF THE BACKGROUND, SO THAT THERE IS NO MISUNDERSTANDING. I THEREFORE WISH TO GIVE YOU IN CONFIDENCE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

2. HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1954 TO REPLACE THE SEPARATE BRANCHES (COLONIAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE, COLONIAL POLICE SERVICE, ETC) OF HM COLONIAL SERVICE. THE BRITISH COLONIAL SERVICE ITSELF DATES FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE 19TH CENTURY, WHEN FORMALISED RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT PROCEDURES WERE ADOPTED IN LONDON TO PROVIDE STAFF FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICES IN THE VARIOUS COLONIES, PROTECTORATES AND OTHER TERRITORIES WHICH WERE DEPENDENT ON HMG IN THE UK.

3.

MEMBERSHIP OF HMOCS HAS BEEN OPEN TO CERTAIN EXPATRIATE OFFICERS APPOINTED BY, OR ON BEHALF OF, THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO SERVE IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. WITH THE COMING OF INDEPENDENCE OR OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES WORLDWIDE FROM THE

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