SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 290
OF 301051Z JANUARY 92
SECRET
HKA 233/1
TOP COPY DIST?
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
44
45
047743
MDHIAN 1251
YRTELNO 104: HMOCS ASSOCIATION INAUGURAL GENERAL MEETING
SUMMARY
1. THE MEETING WAS HELD ON THE EVENING OF 28 JANUARY AND ATTENDED BY OVER 400 MEMBERS, REPRESENTING NEARLY 60 PERCENT OF THE 723 HMOCS OFFICER SERVING IN HONG KONG. A MOTION WAS PASSED URGING THE HKG TO PRESS HMG TO MAKE AN EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT ON COMPENSATION AND STERLING SAFEGUARDS. THE CHAIRMAN AND ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION CONTROLLED THE MEETING VERY WELL. TO
DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO LOCAL MEDIA ATTENTION.
DETAIL
2. THOSE ATTENDING THE MEETING RANGED FROM HIGH COURT JUDGES,
DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS OF DEPARTMENTS AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT OFFICIALS TO THE MORE JUNIOR POLICE INSPECTORS. TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION TO DATE STANDS AT
470. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE OFFICERS WHO HAVE NOT YET JOINED
THE ASSOCIATION ARE EXPECTED TO DO SO IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. ATTENDANCE AND MEMBERSHIP FIGURES ARE EXCEPTIONAL FOR A STAFF ASSOCIATION IN HONG KONG WHERE GENERAL MEETINGS ARE USUALLY
ATTENDED BY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP
ITSELF IS OFTEN LIMITED.
3. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE CMR M D CARTLAND, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE) GAVE A GENERAL INTRODUCTION. HE EXPLAINED THAT HMG HAD ESTABLISHED HMOCS IN 1954 TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF OFFICERS IN THE COLONIAL SERVICE AS THE DEPENDANT TERRITORIES MOVED TOWARD INDEPENDENCE. HMG'S OBLIGATION TO HMOCS WAS SET OUT IN 1954 AND 1961 WHITE PAPERS, AND BY PRACTICE AND PRECEDENT IN OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES UPON THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY. TWO ELEMENTS WERE INVOLVED: COMPENSATION FOR THE LOSS OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S PROTECTION AND THE SUBSEQUENT STERLING PROTECTION OF PENSIONS. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS USUALLY PROVIDED THROUGH A PUBLIC OFFICERS AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED BY HMG WITH THE INCOMING GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER IN HONG KONG'S CASE THE
CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENT WAS THE JOINT DECLARATION AGREED IN 1984.
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