Is there any consecutive rules? As one of my rotation is with federal reserve...
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/641989/nationality_procedures_levels_of_decision_making_v3_0.pdf
You can have a quick look at the above. If you are a BN(O) passport holder wishing to register to become a British Citizen under section 4(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981, then an Administrative Officer (AO) in the Home Office can exercise discretion for absents up to 900 days in 5 years and 180 days in the last year.
On the other hand, if you wish to naturalise to become a British Citizen using your HKSAR passport, the level of decision is higher. A Home Office AO can only exercise discretion for absents up to 730 days in 5 years and 180 days in the last year.
Civil Service Administrative Officers are the front line staff at government departments.
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/civil-service-administrative-officer
If your absences from the UK are due to the fact that you, as a career civil servant, are posted out of the UK by the UK government, then I would think staff at the Home Office will be likely to exercise discretion in your favour.
我唔係civil servant啦sosad
But you work in a Quango?
算係啦