TNAG-2905-FCO40-4179-Hong-Kong-Governor-1993 — Page 101

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GUBERNATORIAL MATTERS

1.

You suggested I should put down my thoughts on the kind of programme the office might find it useful for me to undertake (after finishing my time with WIAD), in order to conduct a review of various matters regarding Governors' Terms of Service and other related subjects. What follows is only an outline, but might form the basis for discussion.

2. First, I would need to establish the scope of the study. Should it relate to all the Dependent Territories (presumably excluding Hong Kong)? I think it should. In addition to the Caribbean DT's and Bermuda I have dealt with Gibraltar, Falkland Islands and St Helena and Dependencies in the past and should not find it too difficult to pick up the threads.

3. What areas need to be investigated? I suggest all Gubernatorial matters including Terms of Service, Conduct and Discipline, Appointment, Briefing and Travel, Uniform (there are currently discrepancies here) and Post retirement activities. There are I am sure other headings. One important area which does not seem to be properly catered for is briefing for Governor's wives. As a first step, this might be best provided in the form of notes on local conditions written in the DTS and additional material - including a list of do's and dont's - from WIAD and or the Personnel Departments.

4. Colonial Regulations should be updated. I think this was last done in the 70's. Quite a lot of changes have to be made e.9.

to Financial Regulations and we may need to add sections covering the role of the new Secretariat being set up in Bridgetown. There may be consequential alterations to DSP Volume 4.

5.

What are the objectives of the study? Obviously to update and rationalise conditions of service etc as far as possible. There may be savings we can identify in the process. Because of the different nature of the DT's there are bound to be local variations but we should remove major anomalies. I suggest another objective should be to improve our service to Governors and our understanding of the work they do. This is already much better than it used to be but many members of the Service do not have a clear idea of a Governor's duties and responsibilities. A paper on this subject already exists but it will need to be recast to take account of recent developments over good government and the establishment of the Whitehall Ministerial Committee.

6. How should the study be conducted? Initially quite a bit of reading and research work into past and present files will be required, followed by discussions with FCO Departments and Governors. Thereafter I would produce drafts of the various papers for circulation and consideration before they are