CODE 18-77
Reference
1 Minute to Aux heur
PD 201/22/01
co Mr E A W Bullock FDTD FCO Kr J Stewart HK & IOD FCO
Y in milken
fals
Mr C A Holmes PDTD FCO Mr C J Hall G & GD FCO
Mr E G Lewis
Gibraltar and General Dept
FCO
EXPATRIATE PENSIONS AND COMPENSATION SCHEMES
1. I expect to leave the United Kingdom on 14 October for the Western Pacific and the Far East for discussions with officials and staff about pensions and compensation matters. As far as the Western Pacific and Hong Kong are concerned it has been mutually understood that the delicacy and difficulty of my task in relation to the Western Pacific Limited Compensation Scheme and the new General Compensation Schemes. and the pension problems in Hong Kong would demand that I am accompanied by Mr CJ Hall, the HMO CS Liaison Officer, in order to ensure that the consultations/negotiations are carried out in the best representational light and that in terms of general efficiency should there be any difficulty both of our Departments would have first-hand knowledge of what the difficulty was and be in a position to report on it in an objective and mutually beneficial way. As you are now no doubt aware the discussions in Honiara with the DPPOA are as they have ever been st of the easiest kind and despite what we are trying to do to secure for the expatriate officers the best terms possible, there is still a large measure of irrational antipathy towards the ODM (and perhaps ne personally). Mr Hall acts as a suitable opposite official so far as the staff are concerned since they feel that they are receiving attention from on the one hand the hard-faced official and on the other someone who is more understanding and compassionate and one who will ensure that their points of view are fully taken into account.
2. I hope therefore that now that the need for my visit is essential and arrangements for it are under way that formal approval can now be given for Mr Hall to be with me in the Western Pacific and in Hong Kong, and that he may therefore go ahead and make his travel arrangements accordingly.
J L West
17 September 1976
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