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HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE
General
The resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong by the People's Republic of China raises similar issues in respect of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service as independence has raised in
other dependent territories.
The Government fully recognise the particular concerns of HMOCS officers in Hong Kong and will continue to keep their interests, as
well as the interests of local civil servants, contract officers and
other expatriate officers, in mind in the years leading to 1997.
Public Officers Agreement
I do not rule out a public officers agreement in due course.
But it is possible that in the unique circumstances of Hong Kong
there may prove to be other ways of laying down the provisions to be applied to members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service. Indeed
some areas normally covered by such agreements have already been
satisfactorily set out in the Joint Declaration, which provides for
continuity of service and of terms and conditions of service,
including pensions, and in a limited compensation scheme introduced
last year by the Hong Kong Government.
General Compensation scheme
Her Majesty's Government have made it clear that the transfer of
Government in 1997 raises issues regarding Her Majesty's Overseas
Civil Service that are similar to those raised in other dependent
territories at independence. The question of a general compensation
scheme will have to be addressed at the appropriate time.
Sterling safeguards 1997
We see no need for decisions at this stage. In other cases,
this question has been settled much closer to the time of
constitutional change.
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