TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 140

CONFIDENTIAL

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Chinese Comments on New Civil Service Policy

Official/Sources

Comments

Date

/Commentators

31.7.93

31.7.93

31.7.93

1.8.93

Appendix I

NCNA HK Branch

Vice-Director

Zheng Guoxiong

Unnamed Chinese official quoted by HK Economic Journal

Lee Yee-ming in Ta Kung Pao

NCNA HK Branch

Vice-Director

Zhang Junsheng

The Chinese side has not been informed of the new policy concerning the renewal of contracts for expatriate civil servants. The employment conditions for civil servants are spelt out in the JD and the BL. There should not be drastic changes in the transition and the Chinese side should be consulted on any important changes.

The Government has made the announcement without prior consultation with the Chinese side. The new measure may affect localisation and the stability of the civil service. The new measure has changed the civil service system and is in reality a policy straddling 1997. The NCNA HK branch will study the repercussions and the Chinese side will discuss this with the

British side of the JLG.

A member of the local NCNA's research department pointed out in May that local Chinese civil servants should have the chance to be promoted to senior posts, otherwise there will not be "HK people running HK" in future. Localisation is to put local Chinese in senior positions now held by foreigners, changing "British people running HK" to "HK people running HK".

The British-HK Government has not discussed the new measure, a major change in the civil service, with China. What is the real meaning of the measure being a "temporary" one? A stable civil service is vital to a smooth transition. Any civil service policy change must be in line with BL stipulations and must be discussed with the Chinese side.

CONFIDENTIAL