TNAG-2699-FCO40-3905-Hong-Kong-Civil-Service-appointments-and-promotions-1993 — Page 29

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previously in this field. The current Commissioner, Mr Oxley, is due to retire around September this year. The HKG wish to pre-empt speculation about his successor by making an early

announcement on 9 February.

5. Mr Watson is currently a Senior Assistant Commissioner of

Police and holds the post of Deputy Director of Special Branch. He is aged 52 and has been with the Royal Hong Kong Police Force

(RHKPF) since 1960. His performance has been consistently good and he is recognised as having further potential. However, there is little opportunity for him to advance further in the

RHKPF due to localisation. The HKG believe that his abilities

and thorough knowledge of operational and disciplined matters make him well qualified to become Commissioner of Customs and

Excise.

6.

Appointing another expatriate to this senior post is likely to draw criticism from some civil servants and the media that the HKG is not moving ahead fast enough with localising the top posts (especially given that Hong Kong separately want to appoint an expatriate to the Independent Commission Against Corruption). The HKG tried to identify a local officer, but

concluded that there is no one suitable who would be able to

meet the requirements contained in Article 101 of the Basic Law (this Article states, inter alia, that after 1997 the Commissioner, Customs and Excise must be an officer with no right of abode in a foreign country). The HKG will identify and groom a suitable local officer over the next 2-3 years and then direct Mr Watson to retire under Hong Kong's Limited Compensation Scheme.

To reduce any criticism from civil servants and the media, the HKG intend to announce a local replacement for a retiring

7.

ps.minu.ADM

SLM

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