sentences:  They are recognised by the British Government for certain purposes as still being comparable to "Crown Servants".The approach of independence in each territory had fundamental effects on the HMOCS personnel there, depending on the outlook of the emerging local rulers and the stage of general social and economic development.In the case of Ceylon, which became independent as the Dominion of Ceylon in February 1948, the relatively few Colonial Service staff were smoothly replaced by local counterparts, and their retirement pensions continued to be paid as normal.