CONFIDENTIAL
MKB 43
RECEIV
291
026366
MDLIAN 3461
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 820
OF 05112OZ MARCH 90
434
3 0 MAR 1990
DESK OFFIC
INDEX
YRTELNO 431 AND OUR TELNO 742:
TOP COPY a DIST ?
POLICE SUPERINTENDENTS' ASSOCIATION LETTER OF 13 JANUARY
1. OUR COMMENTS ON THE SPECIFIC POINTS RAISED IN YRTUR ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(A)
-
POLITICISATION OF THE POLICE -
THE ASSOCIATION'S ANXIETIES IN THIS REGARD ARE UNFOUNDED. THERE IS NO INTENTION ON THE PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THE FORCE SHOULD BE POLITICISED BY BECOMING AN EXECUTIVE ARM OF THE GOVERNMENT. THE POLITICAL ADVISER'S LETTER OF 23 OCTOBER 1989, ΤΟ WHICH THE ASSOCIATION REFERS, NOTED THE ARREST OF MEMBERS OF THE APRIL 5 ACTION GROUP IN THE CONTEXT OF EMPHASISING THAT NO GROUP IN HONG KONG HAS ANY MORE TOLERANCE THAN THE LAW ALLOWS.
(B) RIGHT TO RETIRE BEFORE 1997 AND OATH OF ALLEGIANCE SECTION IV OF ANNEX I OF THE JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDES FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE, INCLUDING SERVICE IN THE POLICE, UNDER THE SARG. THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY TO CHINA DOES NOT OF ITSELF GIVE RISE TO JUSTIFIED CLAIMS FOR ABOLITION OF OFFICE TERMS. MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE WILL BE RELEASED FROM THEIR OATH OF ALLEGIANCE ON THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997. AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, THEY MAY CONTINUE TO SERVE HONG KONG UNDER THE SARG. WE DO NOT ENVISAGE A GENERAL SCHEME, OUTSIDE THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF OUR PENSIONS LEGISLATION, TO ENABLE POLICE OFFICERS TO RETIRE VOLUNTARILY WITH PENSIONS ON OR BEFORE 1997.
(C) RIGHT OF ABODE FOR EXPATRIATES IN HONG KONG
WE INTEND TO INTRODUCE AMENDMENTS TO THE HONG KONG IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE TO GRANT THE RIGHT OF ABODE TO NON-CHINESE NATIONALS AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT YET POSSIBLE TO INDICATE SPECIFIC TIMING FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE LEGISLATION REQUIRED.
WILSON
YYYY
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