TNAG-2877-FCO40-4149-Future-of-Hong-Kong-adaptation-of-laws-1993 — Page 63

GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.

FRI 1 NOV 22 We120

P.06

CONFIDENTIAL

Annex T

LASG Paper 22/93

Adaptation of Laws Crown Agents

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

by the

The Crown Agents were first established in 1833 by

Secretary of State for the Colonies, then Mr. Stanley, later the

Earl of Derby, to act as agents for the procurement of goods and

services for colonial Administrations. At that time, the Crown

Agents formed párt of the general machinery of Crown Colony

government and were necessarily subject to the instructions of the

Secretary of State. They were

were allowed, especially in financial

matters, considerable discretion in transacting a Colony's business.

2.

Thereafter there was

a gradual change in their

constitutional role as a result.of the emergence of self-government

in a number of colonies. The Secretary of State for the Colonies

distanced himself from the Crown Agents, who would receive their

instructions direct from the colonial governments.

In 1954, the

change of name from "Crown Agents for the

the "Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and

Queen approved the

Colonies"

to

Administrations".

In 1966 the post of the Secretary of State for the

Colonies was absorbed

into the Commonwealth office. In October

3.

1968, the Commonwealth office further merged with the Foreign

A new era began for the Crown Agents. They were appointed

Office.

CRANEIDENTIM