CONFIDENTIAL information about top Government officials is expected to be shared with Beijing, in an effort to secure a through-train for the civil service.
Outgoing Chief Secretary Sir David Ford revealed the administration was ready to brief the Chinese on the contents of the personnel records - which are normally kept a closely guarded secret - of senior officials who want to remain in place beyond 1997.
The information would be disclosed as part of talks, which the Government hopes to hold to find out who Beijing wants to see in the top posts in the civil service after 1997.
''There will be a sensitivity among civil servants about any confidential reports going outside the civil service because traditionally they do not do so. But, if one is going to have a discussion about personalities, one must obviously include in that discussion comments about people's strengths and weaknesses,'' he said.
However, he stressed the actual files need not be handed over, with Beijing briefed on those parts considered relevant.
Sir David said early talks on the issue were necessary - most likely in 1995 - to see if any top officials might be barred from serving beyond the handover, although he stressed his confidence that no one would be thrown off the civil service through-train.
''In the unlikely event that, for whatever reason, their career cannot extend beyond 1997, in fairness to them we should let them know in very good time,'' he said.
