TNAG-2435-FCO40-3537-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-secur-1992 — Page 59

The Rt Hon Christopher Patten

40t

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香港總督府

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

HONG KONG

Lue Ricketts HKD

in Carter,

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Comments by 79

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cc Patons

Sri J Coles

Mr. Stanish

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20 August 1992

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Christ Clerk

MN Clay phy mv Baker Wins

Jacaw Booker

Ars/ons

J. Jrwiel,

HMOCS: Posts in Other Dependent Territories

Thank you for your letter of 4 August.

I am grateful for your assurance that our HMOCS officers will be treated on an equal basis with members of the Diplomatic Service when it comes to considering applications for vacancies in the other Dependent Territories. We shall now advise Personnel Management Department which of our HMOCS officers are interested in specific posts and provide up-to-date annual confidential reports for use in the selection process.

You should be aware, however, that the Hong Kong HMOCS Association are likely to take the view that HMOCS officers should be given priority. Historically they are undoubtedly correct. HMOCS officers filled the senior posts in all the Dependent Territories. Until recently, Governors and Chief Secretaries were invariably drawn from HMOCs. The rights of HMOCS officers to be considered for appointments in other Dependent

Territories are specifically mentioned in the 1954 and 1960 Colonial Office White Papers.