From Keith Speed R.D. M.P.
HOUSE OF COMMONS LONDON SWIA OAA
7th November, 1990
Dear Tristan,
I enclose a letter from my constituent, Mrs. Mansell about the problem of Hong Kong pensioners. The letter is clear and straightforward and I have every sympathy with the point she makes. I see there is some criticism of the letter you recently wrote to Edwina Currie on the same subject. If Mrs. Mansell's letter is correct, and I have no reason to doubt it having had occasion to discuss the matter with her at some length at a recent constituency function, then this does not agree with the statement you made to Mrs. Currie that "most Hong Kong pensioners continue to do reasonably well in comparison with their U.K. Public Service counterparts".
I would be grateful if you would look very carefully at this matter and consider the point that Mrs. Mansell makes, particularly with regard to her example and to the fact that we are now, thank heavens, within the ERM and the prospect of a weakening pound seems unlikely. Therefore it appears that many pensioners are going to have to look forward to a substantial reduction on their standard of living. I would be grateful for your comments and views that I can pass on to my constituent.
Yours sincerely,
Keith Speed
Dictated by Mr. Speed and signed in his absence
8111190
ط
Tristan Garel-Jones, Esq., MP,
The Minister of State,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Whitehall,
London, SW1A 2AH
HKD
Af Lord (alithness by 19141
PS/ Lord Caithness PS/Mr. Gavel Jones
A·L·Weld
8/11