cst.ps/11jm19.12
HICC 233/
CONFIDENTIAL
R
1.vcl Mar Footman
2. PA
N
Treasury Chambers Parlament Street. SWIP BAG
.CP.
The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe QC MP Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London.
SW1A 2AH ↑
371
ادتان است
9, 11: ขา
19
December 1988
M
rebbut
HONG KONG: GENERAL COMPENSATION SCHEME
(34.
Thank you for your minute of 24 November to Nigel Lawson outlining the measures you consider necessary to compensate members of Her
Service (HMOCS) Majesty's Overseas
Sovereignty to the Chinese in 1997.
following
the
transfer of
I recognise that it is desirable that sufficient numbers of HMOCS should stay on in Hong King after 1997 to ensure adequate continuity in public administration. But deciding whether a further inducement is necessary, and, if So, what form of inducement would be materially effective are clearly difficult matters of judgement. However I understand your reasons for believing that a general compensation scheme for expatriate officers should be drawn up and announced shortly, and that the scheme should be funded by HMG. I note that you expect it to cost between £10 and £20 million over the 10 years from 1997.
As you
have acknowledged, the vote
would responsibility aturally fall to the FCO/ODA. I think you are right to suggest aid hat diversion of aid funds to a territory not qualifying for would not be defensible. But I do not think I can give any So far in advance of undertaking on the source of the funds requirement. If we commit ourselves to a financial obligation our successors will naturally recognise the force of that
commitment.
am sure that they will want to agree precisely how to meet it in PES terms in the light of the circumstances then prevailing.
I should be most grateful to be kept in touch with progress.
I am copying this letter to Chris Patten.
JOHN MAJOR