TNAG-2435-FCO40-3537-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-secur-1992 — Page 63

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM:

DATE:

N J Cox

Hong Kong Department

3 September 1992

Mr Hum

PS/PUS

HM OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE (HMOCS):

POSTS IN OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

Cc:

Chief Clerk

Mr Beamish

Mr Carter, PPD

Mr Baker, WIAD

Mr Clay, PMD

1.

Lord Wilson of Tillyorn wrote to the PUS on 1 July to flag

up Hong Kong HMOCS officers' claims to consideration for

appointments in other Dependent Territories. The PUS replied

to Mr Patten on 4 August, assuring him that their applications will be treated on their merits and on an equal basis with

applications from Diplomatic Service candidates. Now Mr

Patten has replied to warn us that the HMOCS officers will

continue to press for priority consideration.

2. We shall submit a reply as soon as possible, cleared with

PPD and WIAD, but first wish to see:

(a) whether Mr Goodlad is pressed on this point when he sees HMOCS representatives in Hong Kong during his visit there next

week; and

(b) what advice our Legal Consultant, Mr Fifoot, can offer on the Governor's contention that the HMOCS claim is historically

"undoubtedly correct".

Even before the Governor wrote, Departments had been further discussing the issues raised in this correspondence.

3.

pus.dts/HMOCS

njc

CONFIDENTIAL