HKA 233/
SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 06140OZ FCO
TELNO 701
OF 06112OZ MARCH 92
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
74
146515
MDHIAN 5846
TOP COPY Q DIST?
Pa
915
PERSONAL FOR COX, HKD.
FROM GOVERNOR.
MIPT: HMOCS: DRAFT STATEMENT FOR USE GALSWORTHY/GUO.
BEGINS:
I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED BY LONDON TO BRIEF YOU ON SOME ASPECTS OF THE TERMS OF SERVICE OF CERTAIN EXPATRIATES SERVING IN THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE, WHO ARE MEMBERS OF HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE. THESE TERMS OF SERVICE ARE LIKELY TO BE UNDER DISCUSSION SHORTLY BETWEEN HMG IN LONDON AND REPRESENTATIVES OF HMOCS. MY AUTHORITIES WISH THE CHINESE SIDE TO BE AWARE OF THE BACKGROUND, SO THAT THERE IS NO MISUNDERSTANDING. I THEREFORE WISH TO GIVE YOU THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR YOUR REFERENCE.
HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE (HMOCS) 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 TO SERVE THE
VARIOUS TERRITORIES WHICH THEN COMPRISED THE BRITISH EMPIRE.
MEMBERSHIP OF HMOCS IS OPEN TO EXPATRIATE OFFICERS APPOINTED BY, OR ON BEHALF OF, THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO SERVE IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, WITH THE COMING OF INDEPENDENCE OR OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES WORLD-WIDE FROM THE EARLY 1960'S ONWARDS
HMOCS IS NOW A RAPIDLY DECLINING SERVICE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW APPOINTMENTS SINCE 1984 AND TRANSFERS BETWEEN TERRITORIES ARE NOW RARE. IN HONG KONG THERE ARE 723 MEMBERS OF HMOCS. ALL ARE EXPATRIATE OFFICERS SERVING ON PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE TERMS OF
SERVICE IN THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE.
HMG HAS HISTORICALLY ACCEPTED A SPECIAL OBLIGATION TOWARDS
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