TNAG-2602-FCO40-3790-Administrative-support-for-Chris-Patten--new-Governor-of-Hon-1992 — Page 16

ADVANCED TO PS/MR PATTEN FOR DIST ADVICE

LNMOAN 591

CONFIDENTIAL

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FM HOKON

270935Z M

GRS 400

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HMLNAN 8670

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CONFIDENTIAL

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 1430

OF 270935Z MAY 92

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PERSONAL FOR PS/MR_PATTEN

OUR TELNOS 1268 AND 1395:

GOVERNOR-DESIGNATE:

SUPPORT STAFF

WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FURTHER INTO THE MECHANICS OF APPOINTING MESSRS. DINHAM AND LLEWELLYN AND HOW THIS MIGHT BE DONE MOST PAINLESSLY.

FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS IT WOULD SIMPLIFY MATTERS CONSIDERABLY IF WE COULD, INITIALLY AT LEAST, APPOINT BOTH TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE ON SECONDMENT FROM THEIR PARENT ORGANISATIONS. THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE HAS A CENTRAL

OPERATIONAL RESERVE WHICH COULD BE USED TO ACCOMMODATE THEM FOR A FEW MONTHS IF NECESSARY, DURING WHICH THEY WOULD IN PRACTICE BE ATTACHED TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE. THERE WOULD BE NO COMPLICATIONS ABOUT HAVING TO BORROW POSTS FROM E.G. THE CENTRAL POLICY UNIT OR ELSEWHERE. MOREOVER, USE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE OPERATIONAL RESERVE IS CONTROLLED BY CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH AND DOES NOT REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE OR ITS ESTABLISHMENT SUB COMMITTEE.

3.

THIS MECHANISM WOULD HOWEVER ONLY BE APPROPRIATE IF DINHAM AND LLEWELLYN COULD BE REGARDED AS SECONDEES. THERE ARE PRECEDENTS WITH A NUMBER OF SECONDEES FROM THE HOME CIVIL SERVICE. A CURRENT EXAMPLE IS MIKE HANSON, OUR INFORMATION CO- ORDINATOR WHO IS APPOINTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE STAFF GRADE B ON SECONDMENT FROM HIS U.K. HOME DEPARTMENT. SECONDEES IN HE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE ARE PART OF THE SERVICE FUNCTIONALLY BUT THEY ARE NOT CAREER ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS.

4. WE UNDERSTAND THAT DINHAM WOULD INDEED BE ON SECONDMENT FROM THE ODA AND WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD CONFIRM THIS. COULD LLEWELLYN BE REGARDED AS ON SECONDMENT FROM CONSERVATIVE CENTRAL OFFICE? IF SO, HE CAN BE TREATED IN THE SAME WAY.

5. IF WE WERE TO ADOPT THIS MECHANISM, WE COULD NOT HOLD DINHAM AND LLEWELLYN ON THE OPERATIONAL RESERVE INDEFINITELY. AT SOME STAGE, IT WOULD STILL BE NECESSARY TO APPROACH FINANCE COMMITTEE TO CREATE POSTS FROM THEM IN THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE ESTABLISHMENT. IT WOULD ALSO BE OPEN TO US AT THAT TIME, IF WE WISHED, TO CONSIDER REMOVING THEM FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AND CREATING A SPECIAL GRADE FROM THEM. BUT THE INITIAL DEVICE OF APPOINTING THEM ON SECONDMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE SHOULD EASE THE WAY CONSIDERABLY.

GRATEFUL FOR YOU ADVICE ON THE POINTS IN PARA 4 ABOVE, IS IT POSSIBLE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HOW LONG THE APPOINTMENTS/ SECONDMENTS ARE LIKELY TO BE FOR?

a) Yes

b)

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