CONFIDENTIAL
HKA 016/1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2623
OF 041014Z NOVEMBER 92
AND TO PRIORITY HKGO LONDON
TOP COPY Q DIST?
021042
MDLIAN 2820
p.
71
LOCAL PENSION SAFEGUARDS: PROPOSED VISIT TO LONDON BY THE HONG KONG CHINESE CIVIL SERVANTS ASSOCIATION (HKCCSA)
+w69 1. HKCCSA, ONE OF THE MAJOR GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED CIVIL SERVICE UNIONS, SENT A LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER ON 23 OCTOBER TO LOBBY SUPPORT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CIVIL SERVICE PENSION RESERVE FUND AS A LOCAL PENSION SAFEGUARD. COPY IS BEING FAXED SEPARATELY TO WHITNEY (HKD). THE ASSOCIATION ALSO VISITED THE HK AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE, PEKING FROM 25 TO 27 OCTOBER TO MAKE SIMILAR REPRESENTATIONS.
2.
HKCCSA INTENDS TO ORGANISE A VISIT TO LONDON FROM 16 TO 18 NOVEMBER. THE TWO-MEMBER DELEGATION WILL COMPRISE THE PRESIDENT AND AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER. THEIR AIM IS TO REFLECT THE CONCERN OF CIVIL SERVANTS ON THE SECURITY OF PENSIONS TO FCO OFFICERS. OUR LINE ON PENSION SAFEGUARDS IS TO STRESS THAT PENSIONS ARE SECURE BEING A STATUTORY RIGHT AND A STATUTORY CHARGE ON THE GENERAL REVENUE WITH JOINT DECLARATION AND BASIC LAW GUARANTEES. NEVERTHELESS WE ACKNOWLEDGE STAFF CONCERN AND ARE CONSIDERING SUGGESTIONS MADE BY STAFF BEFORE TAKING ANY
DECISIONS.
3.
WE RECOMMEND THAT APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS FROM HKD AGREE TO MEET THE DELEGATION ON THIS BASIS AND WE ARE ASKING THE LONDON OFFICE BY COPY OF THIS TELEGRAM TO ASSIST IN ARRANGING MEETINGS AS NECESSARY. THE DATES GIVEN BY HKCCSA ARE TENTATIVE. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANY SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES SO WE CAN DISCUSS WITH THE ASSOCIATION.
PATTEN
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