ENG-1994 — Page 60

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

The relationship between London and Hong Kong is essentially one of co-operation. One important task regularly undertaken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is to ensure that Hong Kong's interests and views (which are not always identical to those of the United Kingdom) are properly considered within the British Government machinery, particularly when new policies are being formulated by other Whitehall departments.

Hong Kong's foreign relations are constitutionally the direct responsibility of the British Government. The British Government is internationally responsible for ensuring that the Hong Kong Government fulfils its obligations under the many international conventions and agreements which extend to Hong Kong, as well as to the United Kingdom. But in the day-to-day conduct of external affairs, Hong Kong in practice enjoys a considerable degree of autonomy, and full autonomy regarding trade matters. It is a contracting party to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation and the Asian Development Bank in its own right.

The Role of the Political Adviser

The Political Adviser is a senior member of the British Diplomatic Service, seconded to the Hong Kong Government principally to advise the Governor and the Chief Secretary on international and political issues, and particularly matters concerning Hong Kong's relations with China. His office is part of the Hong Kong Government.

The Political Adviser's office, in conjunction with the Constitutional Affairs Branch, is closely involved in the work of implementing the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong. In addition, the Political Adviser's office continues to offer advice, and in some cases to co-ordinate action, on many other matters, notably in promoting the wide range of contacts between Hong Kong Government departments and their counterparts in China, particularly in Guangdong Province and in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Close and effective cross-border co-operation has developed in diverse areas, including immigration, the fight against crime, anti-smuggling operations, transport, environment issues, customs, the postal services and telecommunications.

The Political Adviser's office is also a communication channel between the Hong Kong Government and foreign and Commonwealth missions in the territory. These missions deal directly, however, with the relevant departments of the Hong Kong Government in most day-to-day matters.

The Public Service

The Public Service employs about 6.1 per cent of Hong Kong's workforce. It provides staff for all government departments and other units of the administration. As at July 1, 1994, the total strength of the Public Service was 180 064. Nearly 99 per cent are local officers. The service is structured into some 428 grades or job categories in the administrative, professional, technical and manual fields, with about 1 230 ranks or job levels.

Overall responsibility for the management of the Public Service lies with the Civil Service Branch of the Government Secretariat. The branch deals with matters such as appointments, pay and conditions of service, staff management, manpower planning, training and discipline. It is also the focal point for consultation with the principal staff associations. There are five departmental divisions, each responsible for the full range of personnel management matters of a group of departments; and six functional divisions,

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