CYPHER/CAT A
TAL
IMMEDIATE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO. 516
21 MARCH, 1968 (DD 2/1/12)
29
CONFIDENTIAL.
WE HAVE FOR SOME MONTHS BEEN DISCUSSING WITH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE QUESTION OF AMORTISED FLYING TRAINING CHARGES IN RESPECT OF BRITISH SERVICE FLYING PERSONNEL LOANED TO COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MORE THAN CURRENT PAY AND ALLOWANCES FOR SUCH PERSONNEL. THE HIGH COST OF PRODUCING FULLY TRAINED PERSONNEL HAS HOWEVER FORCED THEM TO SEEK SOME REFUND OF OUTLAY INVOLVED IN THEIR TRAINING. IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT MINISTRY OF DEFENCE SHOULD ADD TO THEIR CHARGES IN RESPECT OF SUCH PERSONNEL AN ELEMENT TO COVER THESE COSTS ON AN AMORTISED BASIS. IN THE CASE OF A FIXED WING OR HELICOPTER PILOT THIS ADDITIONAL CHARGE IS LIKELY TO BE £3,500 PER ANNUM. REIMBURSEMENT OF THIS ADDITIONAL CHARGE WILL HOWEVER ONLY BE SOUGHT IN RESPECT OF PILOTS REQUIRED AS REPLACEMENTS WHEN THOSE NOW ON LOAN COMPLETE THEIR CURRENTLY AGREED TOURS OF DUTY.
2. WE ARE HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE ON 2 APRIL ABOUT EFFECT OF ABOVE IN RELATION TO FLYING PERSONNEL LOANED TO H.K.A.A.F. IT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL FOR PURPOSES OF THIS MEETING IF YOU COULD LET US HAVE BRIEF OUTLINE OF DUTIES UNDERTAKEN BY LOANED OFFICERS DURING PAST TWELVE MONTHS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO EXTENT TO WHICH SERVICES PERFORMED WERE FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
CROSEC
FILES
C.0. DEFENCE DEPT
HONG KONG DEPT
LAST REF.
NEX!
REF.
CONFIDENTIAL