CONFIDENTIAL
longer be heard by the Privy Council.
42. WHY ARE APPOINTMENTS OF SENIOR JUDGES TO BE ENDORSED BY THE
LEGISLATURE?
Current practice of appointment by the Queen will no longer be appropriate. Similar approval by the Legislature is standard in many countries. Otherwise essence of arrangements for appointments of judges will continue as at present.
SECTION IV: PUBLIC SERVICE
43.
·
POSSIBLE DEFAULT BY SAR GOVERNMENT IN PAYMENT OF PENIONS,
GRATUITIES ETC?
No reason to suppose that SAR Government will default. Agreement provides that the SAR Government will pay all pensions, gratuities and other benefits due to public servants, including to those who have retired before 1 July 1997.
44
•
HMG'S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PENSIONS?
HMG's responsibilities are clearly to see that adequate arrangements are made in the agreement for the payment of pensions earned in the service of the Crown. We have achieved this objective. As to the future, it would be for the Government of the day to decide what action it would be right to take in any given set of circumstances.
45. ELIGIBILITY OF EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS FOR EMPLOYMENT? Agreement makes clear that SAR may employ British and other foreign nationals in Public Service including the Police Department at all except very highest levels. British and other foreign nationals may as advisers to government departments and in professional and technical posts.
46.
MEANING OF CONTINUITY OF HONG KONG'S PUBLIC SERVICE SYSTEM
"SAVE FOR ANY PROVISIONS PROVIDING PRIVILEGED TREATMENT FOR FOREIGN
NATIONALS"
Agreement makes clear that the SAR Government will be served by impartial, effective and stable public service which is a feature of Hong Kong today. Evident however that when Hong Kong becomes a Special Administrative Region of the PRC, certain features of
CONFIDENTIAL