SECRET
72
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELNO 685
OF 05120OZ MARCH 92
HKA 233/1
TOP COPY Q DIST?
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
69
YOUR TELNO 407:
HMOCS COMPENSATION/INCENTIVE SCHEME
142524
MDHIAN 5635
MAR
Lois
Ty
68
713
TIRETS A AND B OF PARAGRAPH 6 OF OUR TELNO 672 ARE NOT IN FACT IDENTICAL. TIRET A STATES THAT THE REASON WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXTENDED THE OPTION DATE FOR CONVERSION TO PENSIONABLE TERMS IS THE ABSENCE OF ANY INFORMATION ON GCS. TIRET B PICKS UP THE STATEMENT IN PARA 5 THAT ONE REASON WHY WE MIGHT AGREE TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR CONVERTING FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW PENSION SCHEME IS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF INFORMATION ON THE GCS. THE POINT IS THAT STAFF MAY SAY THAT IT WOULD BE ILLOGICAL TO EXTEND ONE OPTION DEADLINE BUT NOT THE OTHER.
2. THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO TRANSFER TO PENSIONABLE TERMS, AND THUS BECOME MEMBERS OF HMOCS, ARE NOT REPEAT NOT A DISCRETE GROUP IN THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE. THERE ARE ALSO A FEW OTHER OFFICERS (LARGELY ADMINISTRATIVE) WITH A SIMILAR ELIGIBILITY. THESE OFFICERS, WHILST THEY REMAIN ON CONTRACT, SERVE ON EXACTLY THE SAME TERMS AS ALL OTHER EXPATRIATE CONTRACT OFFICERS. IN ADDITION, APART FROM HOUSING AND PASSAGE BENEFITS, THEY SERVE ON EXACTLY THE SAME TERMS AS LOCAL OFFICERS ON CONTRACT. THERE ARE ALSO APPROXIMATELY 300 EXPATRIATE POLICE OFFICERS WHO SERVE ON THE SAME TERMS, BUT WITHOUT THE ELIGIBILITY TO TRANSFER TO PENSIONABLE TERMS, BECAUSE THEY WERE FIRST APPOINTED IN OR AFTER 1985. IN TERMS OF RETENTION IN THE POLICE FORCE THESE OFFICERS ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT.
3. TO DO AS YOU SUGGEST WOULD INVOLVE GOING TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO SEEK IMPROVED CONTRACT TERMS FOR THOSE EXPATRIATE POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE AN ELIGIBILITY TO TRANSFER TO PENSIONABLE TERMS. OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO CONSIDER ANY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS UNLESS THEY APPLIED TO ALL POLICE OFFICERS, EXPATRIATE AND LOCAL, CONTRACT AND PENSIONABLE. IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO PRESENT THE NEED FOR ANY IMPROVED TERMS AS A MEASURE ESSENTIAL TO SAFEGUARD THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FORCE AS A WHOLE. THIS IN TURN WOULD HAVE SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REST OF THE
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