10 March 1992
CONFIDENTIAL
Sir David Ford KBE LVO JP
Chief Secretary
Hong Kong
Jean Daniel Land
HMOCS
HKA 233/1
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
A
95
London SW1A 2AH
From The Minister of State
AM 12
Ce mot Rote H, HUD
plcc {A Kerby, ODA In fish ODA
Mr Jox
OW 12/3 Miss Williams Mr Styre ope
s[
112/m
121
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
I am grateful for their not in a position to tell them much. 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
سلام
Malch Cartha
THE EARL OF CAITHNESS
an