HOME OFFICE
Queen Anne's Gate London SW1H 9AT
Direct line 01-213 5170 Switchboard 01-213 3000
J Thompson Esq
Foreign and Commonwealth
Office
LONDON SW1A 2AH
Your reference
Our reference
POL/76 1225/2/22
UKK 382 Date
6 January 1978
No
@
Dear Thompson
I refer to the recent telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong concerning the proposed secondment to the Colony of Mr Crane and two other officers from about 17 January, and to our telephone conversations yesterday.
The administrative arrangements proposed are satisfactory save in one respect. It is customary in these circumstances for the Home Office to seek from the employ- ing authority an indemnity against possible additional expense, in the following terms:-
"The Hong Kong Government agrees to indemnify the Home Office or Metropolitan Police against all claims made by police, civil staff or third parties and against liabilities whether arising under statute or common law in respect of personal injury (including injury resulting in death), damage to or loss of property arising in connection with the services in Hong Kong of Mr Crane and the two staff officers."
The indemnity would be given on the understanding that in the event of a special pension being payable in respect of personal injury or death, the sum recoverable from the Hong Kong Government would only cover any amount in excess of the amount of service pension.
I hope you see no difficulty in this.
I understand that the Home Office Public Relations Branch were content with the terms of the proposed announcement by the Hong Kong Government, a copy of which you have sent to me.
I would be helpful if copies of letters and telegrams could be sent direct to me, as well as to Sir Colin Woods.
Yours sincerely
etéo
F CARTER