Sir David Ford KBE LVO JP
Chief Secretary попу конд
Foreign &
Commonwealth
off.
London SW1 2AH
From The Minister of State
25 July 1991
Lea
Jonnier,
we nag a full aiscussion today of the concerns expressed by HMOCS officers in Hong Kong about the arrangements to be made for them when British administration of the Territory ends in 1997. I write in order to set out formally the Government's position.
In March 1985 following questions in both Houses, Baroness Young made a statement that "HMG fully recognised the particular concerns of HMOCS officers in Hong Kong and would continue to keep their interests in mind in the 12 years leading up to 1997". This was amplified by Mr. Richard Luce who in a letter to the Overseas Service Pensioners' Association stated that HMG recognised that the transition of Hong Kong to a Special Administrative Region of China on 1 July 1997 would raise problems in relation to HMOCS comparable to those raised in other dependent territories at independence. Mr. Luce also referred to the fact that it would not be possible for HMOCS service to continue in Hong Kong after 1997. then there have been further ministerial assurances.
Since