TNAG-2922-FCO40-4197-Visits-and-proposed-visits-by-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of--1993 — Page 7

has been made since

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last September and try to persuade them

He will wish to make the point that we

are as keen as they are to resolve this issue satisfactorily.

to remain patient.

11. The Association of Expatriate Civil Servants (AECS) have recently challenged the HKG's localisation policy on the grounds that it contravenes the Bill of Rights and have threatened to go to court. It would play very badly with China if HKG were forced to abandon the localisation policy

because of losing a court case on grounds of the Bill of

Rights (which the Chinese loathe). The AECS are pressing for

a revision of the HKG's non-renewal of contracts policy and

for overseas officers with seven years residence in Hong Kong

to be given the option to transfer to local pensionable

terms. The HKG are considering the best way to handle this

matter. Until they reach a decision, they are taking the

line that they are considering the AECS' points; that the localisation policy remains in force and that they believe that they are administering the policy in a way’which does

not contravene the Bill of Rights. The Minister may wish to

ask the Governor about localisation and also about senior

Civil Service appointments, including the appointment of the first Chinese Chief Secretary, in succession to Sir David Ford. It has been announced that K Y Yeung will replace John Chan who will be leaving the Civil Service in June, but the

Minister might like to ask whether the Governor intends

appointing another local civil servant to replace Mr Chan on

ExCo.

JLG Issues

12. The meeting with Mr Galsworthy (Brief No 7), will be an

opportunity to review progress in the JLG. Nothing was

agreed at JLG XXV in December (not even a communique).

hum24.5/KIN/NJH

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