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Mr
MEATS
We consider it irresponsible to contend with one another having in min only one's personal interests regardless of the existing problems of the Hong Kong community. The British Government has the obligations to help the Government and the people of Hong Kong tide over their crises and difficulties as far as possible. What should really be done in the present situation is to give equal treatment and equal pay to all disciplined services, and to review the decision of the Executive Council.
With all the gloom and doom casted over us as 1997 nears, if the British Government continues to use the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law as an excuse to shirk its moral obligations towards the people of Hong Kong and its responsibilities laid down by international laws, we shall be really disappointed. We earnestly hope the British Government could provide us with effective and convincing plans and pledges in order to allay our anxieties over 1997.
To sum up, we would like to make the following proposals in a bid to maintain staff morale, ease people's mind and foster Hong Kong's prosperity and stability :-
(1) Right of abode in the U.K.
Disciplined services have always been the first target of reprisal when a government changes hands and we believe there is no exception to the SAR Government. The quota of 7,000 places is indeed too modest. However, now that the quota has already been allocated, we cannot but pin our hope on the future in anticipation that we shall be given a priority when new quota is available.
Moreover, we hope that satisfactory arrangements can be made for members of disciplined services and their dependents who are not accorded the right of abode in the U.K. so that they can work with ease of mind.
(2) Pensions
Communist countries currencies are still inconvertible today and so they are useless outside their respective countries. Besides, a currency depreciation is sure to follow whenever a government changes hands. It is, therefore, doubtful whether the future SAR currency will still be convertible and the pegged rate of 1 USD to 7.8 HKD could be maintained.
Though Article 102 of the Basic Law provides that the SAR Government shall pay to public servants, or to their dependents, pensions on terms not less favourable than before, it is expected that the local currency will depreciate so sharply in future that it will become worthless and that the value of pensions cannot be guaranteed unless they are paid in US dollars or British pounds.
At present, it is the Hong Kong Government under the supervision of the U.K., and not the SAR Government under the jurisdiction of communist China, to which we have pledged allegiance. According to the spirit of contract, if there is a change of employer, the employees may ask for redundancy arrangement instead of working for the new employer and receive the provident funds, pensions and even severance pay due to them.
In this connection, it is noted that the Basic Law does not contain any specific reassurances for the employees of the former Government. Article 103 of the Basic Law only provides that the previous system of recruitment and employment of civil servants shall be maintained without
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