TNAG-2662-FCO40-3858-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Consulate-General-1992 — Page 123

STAFFING

RESTRICTED

017575

MDL

0856

4. THE DEPARTMENT'S PAPER ON 'TRANSITION FROM THE BTC' WAS WELCOMED AND DISCUSSED PARA BY PARA. THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS AROSE.

5. WHERE ARE THE IMMIGRATION AND VISA STAFF LIKELY TO COME FROM, BOTH LE AND UK-BASED? ARGUMENTS WERE PUT FOR AND AGAINST SEEKING TRANSFER FROM HKG. IT COULD NOT BE ASSUMED THAT HKG WOULD AGREE TO TRANSFER STAFF TO THE FUTURE CONSULATE-GENERAL, OF THAT INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE WILLING TO MOVE. ADVICE WAS REQUESTED AND EARLY DISCUSSION WITH THE LEAD FCO DEPARTMENT.

6. THE QUESTION WAS RAISED OF LEGAL ADVICE. DELICATE LEGAL WORK DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD COULD JUSTIFY POSTING OF ONE LEGAL OFFICERTO THE FUTURE CONSULATE-GENERAL. THE JLG WOULD NOT BY THEN HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL ADVICE FROM HKG. THE MATTER MIGHT WARRANT STUDY IN LONDON.

V

7. WOULD THERE BE A COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE IN THE CONSULATE GENERAL IMMEDIATELY ON OCCUPATION, RUNNING IN PARALLEL WITH THE ONE IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE UNTIL THE DEPARTURE OF THE GOVERNOR?

MANAGEMENT

8. THE STATEMENT IN THE PAPER THAT 'LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF REINFORCEMENT COULD TAKE PLACE BROADLY AS NECESSARY' WAS WELCOMED. AN EARLY START WAS NEEDED AND AN INITIAL BID HAD BEEN

MADE TO LONDON.

9. THE SBTC BRIEFED THE COMMITTEE IN GENERAL TERMS ON PROPOSALS FOR STAFFING THE BTC DURING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR AND THE

MTR BID FOR 93/94.

DAY

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

119

ΜΑΙΝ

117

.HK: FUTURE CONSULATE GENERAL

HKD

LEGAL ADVISERS

OED PLANNERS

PMD

PAGE

2

RESTRICTED