GRS 850
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2531
OF 06053OZ AUGUST 86
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FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR HUM, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT FROM ACTING GOVERNOR.
GENERAL COMPENSATION SCHEME.
WE HAD EARLMER AGREED THAT THE QUESTION OF A GENERAL COMPENSATHON SCHEME FOR MEMBERS OF HMOCS HW HONG KONG WAS A MATTER FOR CONSIDERAT MON NEARER TO 1997. HOWEVER, THE SHITUATION HAS NOT EVOLVED AS WE HAD HOPED.
2. WE ARE UNDER CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE FROM OVERSEAS OFFICERS ON THE POLICE FORCE TO SEEK FROM YOU A CLEAR UNDERTAKING THAT THERE WILL BE A GENERAL COMPENSATION SCHEME BEFORE 1997. 1 THE POLICE FORCE THERE ARE CURRENTLY SOME 500 POLICE OFFICERS ON CONTRACT WHO HAVE A RIGHT TO TRANSFER TO THE PERMANENT AND PENSHONABLE ESTABLISHMENT. HF WE ARE TO PLAN AHEAD WE MUST HAVE A CLEAR DEA OF THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS ON CONTRACT WHO WILL EXERCHISE THEMİR OPTION TO TRANSFER TO PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE TERMS AND WE HAVE IMPOSED A DEADLINE OF DECEMBER 1986 FOR THIS. THEY ARE ARGUING, NOT UNREASONABLY, THAT THEY CANNOT MAKE THEWR DECAISON WITHOUT KNOWING WHETHER THERE MS TO BE A GENERAL COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR HONG KONG. THEY ARE NOT PRESSING FOR THE DETAILS OF THE SCHEME, SAMPLY FOR A CLEAR UNDERTAKING THAT THERE WILL BE ONE.
3. WE HAVE THEREFORE BEEN GIVING FURTHER THOUGHT TO THE PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE ANTRODUCTION OF A GENERAL COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR MEMBERS OF HMOCS HN HONG KONG. AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, VE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CONCEPT OF SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT BENING FMNANCED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD BE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE BOTH TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND TO THE CHINESE AUTHORINTHES. THE REASONS FOR THMS ARE AS FOLLOWS #-
(A) THE CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OF CHIL SERVANTS (INCLUDING FOREIGN NATHONALS) HIS GUARANTEED UNDER THE JORNT DECLARATION, WE DO NOT QUESTION THAT GUARANTEE FOR LOCAL OFFICERS, NOR CAN WE DO SO FOR OVERSEAS OFFICERS. TO COMPENSATE OVERSEAS OFFICERS AND THUS FACILITATE THEIR DEPARTURE COULD BE SEEN AS CONTRARY TO THE SPURT OF THE JOINT DECLARATHON AND AS MEDICATING A LACK OF CONFIDENCE #N NIT, TO USE HONG KONG FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE WOULD BE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
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