CONFIDENTIAL
228
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
TELNO 72
OF 07160OZ APRIL 92
062771
MDHOAN 2576
HKA 233/1
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING, HONG KONG
HMOCS: DEFENSIVE Q AND A PRESS LINE
GENERAL BACKGROUND COMMENTS
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HMG HAVE NOW ISSUED A STATEMENT OF OUTLINE PROPOSALS FOR COMPENSATING MEMBERS OF HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE WHEN SOVEREIGNTY REVERTS TO CHINA IN 1997 AND THEY LOOSE HMOCS STATUS. THESE PROPOSALS SET OUT IN OUTLINE MEASURES WHICH WE CONSIDER APPROPRIATE IN ORDER TO RECOGNISE THE CHANGE: THEY ALSO GIVE THE OFFICERS CONCERNED ENCOURAGEMENT TO STAY ON AND WORK IN HONG KONG BEYOND 1997. THE STATEMENT PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF HMOCS IN HONG KONG. THE RECENTLY FORMED HMOCS ASSOCIATION HAVE WELCOMED THIS MOVE AND HMG LOOKS FORWARD TO CONSTRUCTIVE CONSULTATIONS WITH ITS REPRESENTATIVES.
THERE IS A NUMBER OF SERVING EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS WHO ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE (HMOCS). HMOCS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1954 BY HMG AND ESTABLISHED A LINK BETWEEN OVERSEAS OFFICERS SERVING IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES AND HMG. THIS LINK WILL COME TO AN END IN 1997 WHEN SOVEREIGNTY REVERTS TO CHINA.
DEFENSIVE MATERIAL
HOW MANY/WHICH OFFICERS ARE INVOLVED?
THERE ARE ABOUT 700 IN ALL
J
MOSTLY IN THE POLICE FORCE AND IN
THE ADMINISTRATION SERVICE.
HOW MUCH WITH THE OFFICERS GET?
THIS WILL DEPEND ON THE FINAL DETAILS OF THE SCHEME, AND HENCE
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