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after 1997. Under the terms of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong HMG remain fully responsible for the administration of Hong Kong up to 1997 with the aim of maintaining the territory's proserity and stability. We are also committed to working with the Chinese Government to achieve a smooth transition for Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty for in 1997. The Hong Kong police clearly have a crucial role to play in maintaining that stability up to and beyond 1997, and it is essential that their morale and professionalism should remain high. Failure on our part to reassure Hong Kong police officers now that after 1997 they would not be debarred from transferring to another force in the UK or the Commonwealth (subject of course to meeting the other criteria for employment) might well lead many to leave the Hong Kong force prematurely, before 1997. Such a drain on experienced police manpower would have adverse effects on Hong Kong's social stability going far beyond any immediate effect on the force itself.
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5.
I would therefore very much hope that the Home Office might be able to provide a general formula of reassurance on the lines requested in Mr Clift's letter, dealing with subsequent employment in a British police force. (I envisage that the FCO would pursue the question of transfer to other Commonwealth Forces practice Australia and Canada - with those governments direct.) I think that in principle there should be no real difficulty in satisfying ourselves that service with the Hong Kong police after-1997 does not constitute service for a communist government. Under the terms of the Joint Declaration Hong Kong will become a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China in 1997, enjoying a high degree of autonomy (including full responsibility for the maintenance of public order in the SAR). Annex I to the Joint Declaration also provides "that after the establishment of the HKSAR the socialist system and socialist policies shall not be practised in the HKSAR and that Hong Kong's previous capitalist system and lifestyle shall remain unchanged for 50 years". These guarantees form part of an international treaty which both signatories have registered at the UN.
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6.
I imagine that my request raises issues which you may need to discuss with others elsewhere in the Home Office. Could you kindly explore with them whether a
on the present lines could be provided? We would need to be able to quote it in full to the Hong Kong police staff associations on request, and thus to be prepared to see it become publicly known. Needless to say our aim in doing so would not be the tempt officers away from the force: rather the reverse, by giving them the confidence to stay.
7.
I hope this is all sufficiently clear. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you need further background on any point raised in this letter.
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Mr Kelland, OPA
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CO Hum
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256/3
Mr Hum
HKD
From:
J W Kelland, Overseas Police Adviser
Date:
5 August 1987
CC: Mr R S Barratt,
HMCIC, Home Office Mr R Anning, Commissioner of Police, Hong Kong
HONG KONG POLICE:
FUTURE PROSPECTS
Thank you for sending me your proposed draft letter to Mr Barratt. I must say initially that I found it perfectly acceptable and your intentions were made abundantly clear. However, by coincidence, Mr Barratt's reply to my earlier letter arrived on the desk at about the time I was replying to you.
You will see that we are in some danger of crossing in the post and I think the best solution might be for me to return your draft together with a copy of Mr Barratt's You may feel from the latter that the Home Office has not addressed the question of dependents, to which Mr Anning referred during discussions with you.
2.
letter.
You may therefore like to review your letter in the light of this latest information. Should you wish me to have a look at your fresh draft, I would be happy to do so. Alternatively, I should be equally happy were you to write direct to Mr Barratt and copy to me.
3. I am also copying this minute to Mr Anning, along with а copy of Mr Barratt's letter, because no doubt his staff association may be pressing him for some sort of reply. At least he will be able to tell them that the matter is "under active consideration".
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Kelland
OAB G 89C
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