CONFIDENTIAL
J.
17.
PENSIONS OF CIVIL SERVANTS, HMOCS?
HMG'S responsibilities are to see that adequate arrangements are made in agreement for payment of pensions earned in service of
Crown. We have achieved this. Agreement provides that SAR
Government will pay all pensions, gratuities and other benefits due
to public servants and dependants including those who have retired
before 1 July 1997.
[IF PRESSED] No reason to suppose that SAR Government will default.
It would be for the Government of the day to decide what action it
would be right in any given set of circumstances.
K. HMOCS
COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS?
18. The draft agreement on the future of Hong Kong provides
satisfactorily for continuity of service by serving officers in the
public service in Hong Kong, on terms and conditions
terms and conditions, including pay and pensions, no less favourable than before 1 July 1997. These preovisions apply to members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service (HMOCS) serving in Hong Kong as well as to other civil servants. Resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong by the People's Republic of China raises similar issues in respect of HMOCS as independence
has in other dependent territories. Not possible, however, to define now, 12 and a half years in advance of constitutional change, all the arrangements which will apply to members of HMOCS serving in Hong Kong and to payment of their pensions by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government after 1 July 1997.
Hong Kong Department
4 December 1984
CONFIDENTIAL