TNAG-2435-FCO40-3537-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-secur-1992 — Page 61

HKA 233/6

CONFIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE

FROM: N J COX

DATE:

Hong Kong Department 2 September 1992

Mrs Sutherland

CC:

Mr Beamish

}

with refs.

Mr Hum

Mr Baker, WIAD

Mr Clay, PMD

37

پیا

Mr Carter, PPD

HM OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE (HMOCS): POSTINGS IN OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

1.

I have also

Thank you for your minute of 2 September. seen Mr Clay's (PMD) minute of 28 August. I am sorry that we have all over-looked PPD's interest for so long (most papers since 1 July were copied or marked for action to the Chief Clerk and Mr Clay, so it is not just HKD which has been at fault. But the trial ballons which have caused so much alarm were floated for the first time inour draft submission of 25 August.)

2.

First, as a general point, I may note that, excellent though it is to see so many officials batting for the interests of the Diplomatic Seervice, it is rather unsatisfactory that no Department considers itself to have inherited a general responsibility towards HMOCS. HKD's first concern is for HMG's interests in Hong Kong; but in tackling the HMOCS problem there, we naturally have to brief Ministers on the general commitments which their predecessors made towards HMOCS. We should be delighted if PPD or some other part of the Administration wished to take over the lead on this, leaving us to concentrate on the pure Hong Kong aspects.

3. I am glad to discover that we are now all agreed that we should stick to the formulation which the PUS used with the Governor about equality of consideration for HMOCS and DS applicants; and that straight-forward implementation of that principle is not incompatible with the decision to build up a cadre of DS officers with DTs' experience. There is therefore no need for a submission to Mr Goodlad before he leaves for Hong Kong tonight. We have briefed him to reply to HMOCS questions on this subject by noting that we have put in place a system for notifying them of vacancies and by assuring them that their applications will be treated on their merits and on an equal basis with those from DS candidates.

4.

However PS/PUS has asked to have by 7 September any comments on Mr Patten's letter of 20 August to the PUS. I attach a draft minute and should be grateful for your comments or clearance as soon as possible. (You will note that I propose keeping the inward transfer point, for which we are grateful, in reserve until we are able to consult the

carter.dts/KMOCS

njc

CONFIDENTIAL

MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE