Chairman and Members of the Hong Kong Parliamentary Group.
c/o The House of Commons,
LONDON,
S.W. 1A OAA
ENGLAND
Dear Sir,
You may recall I wrote to you on the 10th May, 1984 outlining the concerns and views of our members. I am now writing to bring you up to date on current opinion and some aspects which may be of assistance to you in the forthcoming debate on the future of Hong Kong.
We recently carried out an opinion survey of our membership to gauge their reaction to the Draft Agreement on the future of Hong Kong. This survey attracted a very positive response.
From the survey we conclude as follows:
OPINION SURVEY SUMMARY
1. The overwhelming majority feel that on balance the Draft Agreement should be accepted, there being no choice.
2.
3.
4.
There are doubts as to the sincerity of China to implement its declared basic policies on the future of Hong Kong. It is accepted that only time will test the true intentions of China.
There is a demand for explicit clarification in detail of the references in the Draft Agreement to non- Chinese foreign nationals in the public service with regard to promotion and privileges.
The Draft Agreement will adversely affect expatriate civil servants. This is felt more acutely by those below the age of 42. This adverse affect is anticipated and accepted by many of our members as the inevitable result of decolonisation.
5. Officers on short term contracts see the prospect of
further employment as being bleak.
6.
Permanent and Pensionable officers with substantial service are very concerned as to whether or not they will receive worthwhile pensions and want the kind of assurances that any good and reliable employer should be able to give.
7. Younger Permanent and Pensionable officers are seriously considering resigning now and seeking employment elsewhere rather than being disappointed later, when to start a new career would not be so easy to accomplish.
15th November 1984
We have informed the Hong Kong Government that these worries have been responsible for a perceptable lowering of morale since the Draft Agreement was issued.
OUR FUTURE
The Hong Kong Government has recently indicated that the expatriate civil servant's presence in Hong Kong is to become more temporary. We understand that no further expatriate civil servants will be employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
Although we have to accept that we are to be phased out of the public service, we nevertheless expect to see Hong Kong through this transitional period until British Administration ends in 1997.
You will I am sure understand that there will be problems that we shall have to face leading from this policy when we are replaced by local officers or our services are no longer required. Some of us will need assistance to make the transition from employment here to employment in our countries of origin. There will be problems of continuing the education of our children. We shall need the security of guaranteed pensions for our old age and Widows and Orphans' and Widows and Childrens' pension fund schemes payments for our dependents.
These problems will become the problems of our countries of origin, not the Hong Kong S.A.R. Govern- ment. We do not want to find ourselves disowned by Hong Kong and rejected by our countries of origin.
CONCLUSION
I hope you will be able to press the British Government to introduce safeguards and avenues for a transition to the future for us. If you have any advice you can give us on these matters I should be pleased to hear. Meanwhile, if there is any further information you require I will provide it.
Yours faithfully,
J.S. Lambourn President
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