MUGAAN
01 JUN 1998
PS/Mr Mayde
Hayde
I submit a draft reply
Rosalind Hand 1.11.90.
R M Marsden
Mrs Edwina Currie MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A OAA
cc: Mr Paul, HKD
Issy
Thank you for your letter of 6 May enclosing one from
Mr A D McInnes, President of the Association of Expatriate Civil Servants of Hong Kong about various matters of concern to members of his Association. I shall try to deal with these points in turn.
pryta
First, the security of pensions after 1997. The Joint Declaration and the Basic Law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) both contain very clear assurances about the continued payment of pensions after 1997. They state that the Hong Kong SAR Government will pay pensions on terms no less favourable than before, and irrespective of the nationality or place of residence of the persons concerned. The Joint Declaration is a binding international agreement and its provisions should not be dismissed
lightly.
Secondly, Mr McInnes expresses concern about the Supplementary Pension for Overseas Service (SPOS). I know that the arrangements are considered by some to be inequitable, but I believe that the