CONFIDENTIAL
122
MDHIAN 320
RECOGNISED THAT IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH STERLING SAFEGUARDS LATER. THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT
SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR HMOCS NEED BE A DIVISIVE ISSUE OF BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY. HMOCS MEMBERS ULTIMATE ALLEGIANCE WAS TO HMG ALTHOUGH THEY ALL HAD DEEPFELT CONNECTIONS WITH HONG KONG. THEY WERE NOT PLANNING TO TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN. THEY WANTED A SCHEME TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY. BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR EXPATRIATES WHEN THEY SAW THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TAKING MEASURES TO ACCELERATE THE LOCALISATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE WITHOUT COMPARABLE ARRANGEMENTS BEING PUT IN PLACE TO SAFEGUARD THE POSITION OF EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS AFTER 1997.
WILSON
YYYY
MAIN
29
HKD
FED
NEWS D RMD
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
29
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
ODA//MR KERBY
ODA//MR FISH