CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 431/1
RECEIVED IN
- 1 MAR 1990
DESK OFFICER
TELNO 742
OF 280444Z FEBRUARY 90
INDEX
Vi läker
007736
MDLIAN 2066
YOUR TELNOS 371 AND 431:
MP'S LETTER: CIVIL SERVICE MATTERS
1.
WE FEEL THAT YOUR PROPOSED REPLY TO MR PETER BOTTOMLEY MP IS PERHAPS TOO SPECIFIC AND AT THIS STAGE, WHEN MUCH STILL REMAINS TO BE DECIDED, IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO RESPOND IN MORE GENERAL TERMS. AS IT STANDS IT COULD GENERATE MORE QUESTIONS THAT IT ANSWERS AND GIVE RISE TO UNDUE ANXIETY, OR CONVERSELY RAISE UNWARRANTED EXPECTATIONS, AMONG OVERSEAS OFFICERS. THAT SAID WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE VARIOUS POINTS MADE IN YOUR DRAFT REPLY:-
(A)
(B)
(C)
2.
PARAGRAPHS 3 AND 4: WE FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A REFERENCE TO JD 74 AND THE LIMITED COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR THOSE OFFICERS AFFECTED BY JD 74.
POA:
IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO SAY THAT IN THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG, A POA MAY NOT BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE MEANS TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF HMOCS MEMBERS BUT THAT THIS AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES ARE BEING
EXPLORED.
ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT RECORDS: WE DOUBT WHETHER WE CAN
GIVE THE CATEGORICAL ASSURANCE CONTAINED IN THE DRAFT. SHOULD WE NOT SIMPLY SAY THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN, AND RECORDS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE SARG WILL BE THOSE WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO ENABLE IT TO
FUNCTION PROPERLY?
WE ARE FAXING TO STONE A SUGGESTED REDRAFT OF YOUR PROPOSED
REPLY TO MR BOTTOMLEY. WE FEEL THAT YOUR REPLY TO THE
REPRESENTATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENTS' ASSOCIATION CAN BE COUCHED ALONG SIMILAR LINES. WE SHALL LET YOU HAVE OUR COMMENTS WITH THIS
WEEK ON THE SPECIFIC POINTS RAISED IN YOUR TELNO 431.
WILSON
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