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CONFIDENTIAL
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that telegram deals with offences involving males.
This
appears to introduce a substantive weakness into Hong Kong's
case and I have sought clarification of it.
4.
The Hong Kong Law Reform Commission has considered the
present legislation and is expected to report to the Governor
later this year. It will not, however, be easy to change the
law. Local Chinese opinion holds that homosexuality is alien
to Chinese culture and it would be difficult for the Chinese
members of UMELCO to endorse any relaxation of the law given
strongly held views of the majority of the community.
5.
In the FCO there is no formal bar to the employment of
homosexuals. But we are a fully PV'd Department. Present
security rules take the view that homosexuality raises a
presumption of unfitness for employment in posts requiring
PV or NV clearance. So without PV clearance there are
virtually no career prospects in the FCO. Those revealed
to be homosexual during their probationary period are therefore
advised to transfer to the Home Civil Service where there are
opportunities for a normal career without PV clearance.
Where officers are revealed later in their careers to be
homosexual, they are similarly advised of the severe
limitation which this places on their career prospects and
are encouraged to transfer to the Home Civil Service.
the situation is clearly different from that in Hong Kong
because of the legal position there.
22 February 1982
Бир
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFIDENTIAL
However