SECRET
Pa
нка 233/1
(TOP COPY)
155 022452
MDHOAN 1901
SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 548
OF 24170OZ MARCH 92
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
118
Mr Shard 613
Miss Willams
Pu
8w2513
(Ver
good suite of
telegrams)
UKREP JLG TELNO 91: HMOCS: BRIEFING FOR THE CHINESE
1
WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHAT LINE TO ASK UKREP JLG TO TAKE
IF THE CHINESE ASK WHAT OBLIGATIONS HMG HAS TO HONG KONG HMOCS OFFICERS, IN ADDITION TO COMPENSATION.
2.
DEPARTMENTS HERE CONSIDER, SUBJECT TO YOUR, UKREP'S AND PEKING'S VIEWS, THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE.
BEGINS
IN ADDITION TO THE QUESTION OF COMPENSATION, THERE ARE TWO OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR HMOCS OFFICERS IN OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES AT THE TIME OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, WHICH WE CONSIDER RELEVANT IN THE HONG KONG CONTEXT:
(A) OFFICERS WHO ARE RETAINED IN THE SERVICE OF THE PREVIOUSLY DEPENDENT TERRITORY SHOULD ENJOY TERMS OF SERVICE NO LESS FAVOURABLE THAN BEFORE, INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO SALARIES, ALLOWANCES, BENEFITS, AND PENSION ENTITLEMENTS. IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG THESE POINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FULLY COVERED BY THE JOINT DECLARATION AND BASIC LAW:
(B) HMOCS OFFICERS WHO HAVE WORKED IN OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES HAVE RECEIVED ON INDEPENDENCE A COMMITMENT BY SUCCESSOR GOVERNMENTS TO SAFEGUARD THE STERLING VALUE OF THEIR PENSIONS. HMOCS OFFICERS IN HONG KONG HAVE REQUESTED SOME GUARANTEE OR SAFEGUARD THAT THE STERLING VALUE OF THEIR PENSIONS WILL BE MAINTAINED. HMG AND HKG HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHAT IF ANY ARRANGEMENTS MIGHT APPROPRIATELY BE MADE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG. NO DECISIONS HAVE YET BEEN TAKEN.
ENDS