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Mr Fish
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HKB 233/1
Mess Withou
Reference.
From: J V KERBY
(Extn 0380)
p.a.pls.
216
Date: 5 December 1991
NM
6/12
cc: Mr Cox
Hong Kong Dept
HONG KONG:
MISSION ON PENSIONS-RELATED ISSUES
I have been reflecting further on our conversation earlier today, when you told me that Treasury representatives might not be attending some of the meetings during next week's mission. I said then that I thought it undesirable that you should attend any meetings as the sole representative of HMG in London, and I am writing formally to confirm this.
2.
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I have three basic reasons in mind:
(i)
The main agenda for the mission is the possibility of providing a sterling guarantee for expatriate pensioners (and incidentally a guarantee that pensions will be paid) by means of a once-for-all actuarially calculated payment by the Hong Kong Government to HMG in London. Although the ODA's Pensions Department would be responsible for making payments to pensioners once the overall scheme had been agreed, policy responsibility for getting agreement on such a scheme rests with Hong Kong Department. (Their role is the same as that of the Colonial Office in respect of other dependant territories before independence).
(ii) If members of HMOCS, or any other group, in Hong Kong find
themselves talking solely to a member of the ODA, it may give the misleading impression that the Aid Programme is available as a possible way of financing compensation or guarantee arrangements. The fact is, of course, that we cannot operate any scheme without additional funding (either from the Treasury or from Hong Kong, in either case channelled through the Superannuation Vote).
(iii) The whole purpose of mounting this mission is to expose the
Treasury officials primarily concerned to the position as seen by the Hong Kong Government and staff there.
I therefore very much hope that you can persuade your Treasury colleagues to accompany you to all meetings. If on any occasion this proves impossible and it is regarded as undesirable to cancel the meeting, you should be accompanied (in the absence of anyone from Hong Kong Department) by someone from the Hong Kong Government.
J V KERBY
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