TNAG-2699-FCO40-3905-Hong-Kong-Civil-Service-appointments-and-promotions-1993 — Page 57

HKCS Afers.

CONFIDENTIAL STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

4

127672

MDLIAN 1468

TOP COPY

CONFIDENTIAL

HKA 431/1

Q DIST?

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE.

Y

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 155

UZ FEB 1993

DESK O

LUISTRY Action Taken

OF 021143Z FEBRUARY 93

APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE

1

·

THE CURRENT COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, CLIVE OXLEY, IS EXPECTED TO RETIRE AROUND SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR. THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE SPECULATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AS TO HIS SUCCESSOR. WE WISH TO PRE-EMPT THIS BY MAKING AN EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT.

2.

AFTER A THOROUGH SEARCH BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT DONALD MCFARLANCE WATSON, CURRENTLY SENIOR ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL BRANCH), SHOULD BE APPOINTED. WATSON IS AGED 52 AND HAS BEEN WITH THE RHKP SINCE 1960. HIS PERFORMANCE HAS CONSISTENTLY IMPRESSED AND HE IS RECOGNISED AS HAVING FURTHER POTENTIAL. HOWEVER FURTHER ADVANCEMENT IN THE RHKP WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC OWING TO THE NEED TO ADVANCE LOCALISATION. WE BELIEVE ON THE OTHER HAND THAT WATSON'S THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF OPERATIONAL AND DISCIPLINED MATTERS WILL BE A BONUS TO CUSTOMS AND EXCISE WHICH HAS HAD A SERIES OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS AS COMMISSIONERS IN RECENT YEARS.

3. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE IS ONE OF THE POSTS MENTIONED UNDER ARTICLE 101 OF THE BASIC LAW. HOWEVER WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SUITABLE FOR THE COMMISSIONERSHIP AT PRESENT WHO IS LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF ARTICLE 101. OUR INTENTION WOULD BE TO IDENTIFY AND GROOM A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE OVER THE NEXT 2-3 YEARS AND THEN TO DIRECT WATSON TO RETIRE UNDER THE LIMITED COMPENSATION SCHEME.

A FURTHER ADVANTAGE OF APPOINTING WATSON IS THAT THIS WOULD FACILITATE LOCALISATION IN THE RHKP WHICH HAS A FAR MORE SERIOUS LOCALISATION PROBLEM THAN CUSTOMS AND EXCISE. IN THE LATTER DEPARTMENT, APART FROM THE COMMISSIONER, THERE IS ONLY ONE OTHER OVERSEAS OFFICER AND HE IS AN AO STAFF GRADE C WHO CAN EASILY BE REPLACED BY A LOCAL IF DESIRABLE.

A

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL STAFF IN CONFIDENCE