SECRET
OF 04110OZ MARCH 92
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE F CO
TELNO 672
Action
RTR
به کارهم
66
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
taken M
313
м
HKA 233/1
4/3
&
dol
68
137046
MDHIAN 5437
YOUR TELNO 372 HMOCS COMPENSATION/INCENTIVE SCHEME
1. THANK YOU FOR TUR. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR EMPHASISING THE POINT THAT THE COMPENSATION/INCENTIVE SCHEME NOW ON THE TABLE REPRESENTS THE MINIMUM WHICH WOULD MEET HMG'S OBLIGATIONS TO HMOCS OFFICERS IN HONG KONG. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT GENEROUS AND FALLS FAR SHORT OF WHAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED UNDER TRADITIONAL GENERAL COMPENSATION SCHEMES IN OTHER TERRITORIES.
2. WHATEVER SCHEME IS ON OFFER, HMOCS OFFICERS WILL PRESS FOR SOMETHING MORE AKIN TO A TRADITIONAL SCHEME. WE DOUBT WHETHER TINKERING WITH THE PRESENT PROPOSAL TO MAKE IT CHEAPER WILL GIVE YOU MUCH ROOM TO MANOEUVRE IN THE CONSULTATIONS. HOWEVER WE SHALL COMMENT FURTHER ONCE WE SEE WHAT MODIFICATIONS THE TREASURY ARE PROPOSING.
3. WE TOO ARE NOT SURE WHETHER IT WOULD BE LEGALLY POSSIBLE TO STOP FURTHER ENROLMENT IN HMOCS. YOU MAY WISH TO CONSULT FIFOOT, WHO HAS CONSIDERABLE EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA.
ENROLMENT IN HMOCS IS ENTIRELY A MATTER FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE. FROM THE HONG KONG STANDPOINT, THE OUTSTANDING ISSUE IS THAT CERTAIN CONTRACT OFFICERS (LARGELY POLICE) APPOINTED BEFORE 1 JANUARY 1985 HAVE THE OPTION TO TRANSFER TO PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE TERMS. THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION TO HMOCS WOULD ARISE THROUGH THEIR BECOMING PENSIONABLE OVERSEAS OFFICERS ORIGINALLY APPOINTED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
5. WE HAVE SET A DEADLINE OF THE 30 JUNE 1992 FOR OFFICERS TO EXERCISE THEIR OPTION TO CONVERT TO PENSIONABLE TERMS. THIS IS DISTINCT FROM THE OPTION TO CONVERT TO THE NEW PENSION SCHEME. WE ARE UNDER CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE TO EXTEND THE OPTION DEADLINE FOR THE LATTER: FROM OVERSEAS OFFICERS BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HMOCS ARRANGEMENTS, AND FROM LOCAL OFFICERS WHO FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD FIRST KNOW THEIR POSITION UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SCHEME. WE SHALL THEREFORE HAVE TO GIVE CAREFUL
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