Mr Ham, HKD
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CONFIDENTIAL
Du Kortin
2
A Word
R Pand
,en من
FROM: PS/Lord Glenarthur DATE: 21 March 1988
cc: Private Secretary
PS/Mr Eggar
PS/PUS
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Fifoot, Legal
Advisers
News Dept
Mrs Bottomley MP Mr Teasdale
CALL ON LORD GLENARTHUR BY THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
1.
Sir David Wilson called on Lord Glenarthur for 40 minutes this morning, accompanied by his Private Secretary. You and I were also present. The following summarises the main points discussed.
a) General Compensation Scheme (GCS)
2.
Sir D Wilson said that the HKG realised that the timing was not opportune for the FCO to tackle other Whitehall Departments over funding for a GCS. They had therefore put back to end-March 1989 the deadline by which civil servants and police would have to decide whether to switch from contract to pensionable terms. It was, however, desirable to avoid prolonging the delay, which was likely to affect morale. Lord Glenarthur asked about the current extent of concern. Sir D Wilson said that the situation was not serious: grumbling rather than a pent-up explosion. The important thing was to get the right answer.
b) Presentation of Policy
3. Sir D Wilson said that reaction in Hong Kong to the White Paper on Representative Government had been better than expected. Although articulate radicals did not accept the outcome, opinion generally had favoured getting down to implementing the decision taken. Demonstrations etc in Hong Kong had not achieved wide support. Even the South China Morning Post, generally antagonistic towards the HKG over the last year, had produced a supportive editorial. The recent LegCo debate had shown that a majority in all constituencies, not just the appointed members, supported the recommendations in the White Paper.
4. less
Lord Glenarthur noted that the reaction in London had been much
favourable. We were well aware of the need to work on the
CONFIDENTIAL
/media