10 March 1992
CONFIDENTIAL
HKA
233/1
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
Kas
95
London SWIA 2AH
Sir David Ford KBE LVO JP Chief Secretary
Hong Kong
Jean David
HMOCS
From The Minister of State
切
AM 12/3
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Mal
Mr Joxe Mr Store ope
Our 12/3 Miss Williams
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On my return to London, I have been able to catch up on the position following an exchange of Ministerial correspondence last week on this subject.
When I met officers of the HMOCS Association on 5 March, I was not in a position to tell them much. I am grateful for their understanding that these difficult questions take time to resolve and for their appreciation that it would do no good, for any of the parties involved, for there to be public controversy. But in the light of further Ministerial exchanges I can now be a little more forthcoming.
I am pleased to tell you that Her Majesty's Government have now formulated a proposal for a scheme providing elements of
We look forward to opening incentive and compensation. consultations about this with representatives of the officers concerned before Easter.
Before this decision becomes public knowledge, we need to brief the Chinese. This may be a sensitive subject with them, and we do not want them to react unfavourably as a result of partial or misleading press reports.
I am aware that the HMOCS Association will have elections on 26 March and I hope to be able to write to the Chairman of the Association in terms of paragraph 3 above shortly before then.
You Sincerely
Malch Cauthen
THE EARL OF CAITHNESS
12/ü