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I could not resist remarking that CS might have spared us all time and trouble had he alerted us earlier to his submissions to the FCO.//But the petition,/which must be an embarrassment to the Administration,/would tell our story to EXCO in our own words, which was what we wished in any case./CS candidly conceded that he should have told us what was going on,/but that he had been busy on the major row with China over the airport, among other things./
In response to queries, the Chief Secretary did not think further representations by OSPA to Lord Caithness could do any harm./Indeed/they might spur a reluctant or hostile FCO to positive and helpful action./And War Service Credit had at last reached the Bill stage for LEGCO, having passed EXCO./On my suggestion, CS agreed that those eligible for War Service Credit would be contacted individually.//
Finally I tried to see the Governor, but his trip to Australia apparently precluded our meeting, however briefly I wrote to him regretting, but reminding him that we had been assured that he would be taking our petition in EXCO on his return/and that we knew he would give it the consideration it deserved.//
I made no formal approach to our Associates in the Civil Service and Royal Hong Kong Police Force/because it did not seem to be appropriate while our petition to the Governor in Council pended,/but I gathered in conversation with individuals / that morale had not improved. Indeed, five Civil Service Unions had exchanged views recently with the Chinese through their Director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, Lu Ping, on the issues of pensions and confidence,/,and, the day before I left Hong Kong, the Association of Expatriate Inspectors in the RHKPĚ voted no confidence in their Commissioner and the HKG.
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Subsequently, I wrote to the Chief Secretary to confirm my understanding of the general terms in which he had spoken,/as outlined,/and asking for specific details of HKG proposals to the FCO. By copy to the Secretary for the Civil Service,/I asked also for what exactly had been put to Lord Caithness/and for the outcome of our petition to EXCO. Two reminders on Dougie Blye's FAX, which included reference to mandatory passages in the
Manual of Office Practice regarding the prompt response to correspondence,/finally elicited a brief letter yesterday from the SCS which I now quote :
"I confirm that the proposal we have put to HMG is along the lines indicated to you by David during his discussion with you last November. Essentially it is for HMG to take over the payment of pensions to former members of HMOCS at a fixed exchange rate to be agreed. The details will have to await acceptance of the proposal in principle.As an alternative/we have also suggested that the SPOS arrangements be revised so
| Telno that they take account of currency fluctuations either way, We shall let you know as soon as there are any developments.
HKGs usual line -lè
-le for time. Was the proposal pur tous formally? HKG know HimG cannot accept it HKG Kathis before making it.
The Chiep Sucreray
Faxed with Hitelno 3289