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MDHOAN
ON THE OUTCOME OF CONSULTATION. MANY FACTORS INVOLVED INCLUDING
AGE OF OFFICER, LENGTH OF SERVICE, LENGTH OF TIME OVER WHICH ANY PAYMENTS ARE MADE AND OTHERS.
(IF PRESSED) SUBJECT TO CONSULTATION.
AT THIS STAGE.
CANNOT COMMENT FURTHER
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST, WHO PAYS, WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN?
CANNOT YET SAY HOW MUCH THE COST WILL BE. BUT WHATEVER THE COSTS FOR THE PROPOSALS UNDER CONSIDERATION, HMG WILL PAY AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, WHICH WILL BE DECIDED AFTER CONSULTATIONS,
HAVE THE CHINESE BEEN CONSULTED?
WHAT WAS THEIR REACTION?
WE HAVE INFORMED THE CHINESE. THEY KNOW THAT WE SHALL BE
HOLDING CONSULTATIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF HMOCS.
WILL THIS NOT BE VERY DIVISIVE VIS A VIS LOCAL CIVIL SERVANTS?
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THE PROPOSALS UNDER DISCUSSION ARE A MATTER BETWEEN HMG AND
THE HMOCS OFFICERS CONCERNED. HKG FOR ITS PART HAS AN EQUAL OBLIGATION TO ALL ITS EMPLOYEES, WHETHER EXPATRIATE OR LOCAL, PENSIONABLE OR CONTRACT. HMG ARE VERY MINDFUL THAT LOCAL AND EXPATRIATE OFFICERS WORK TOGETHER SIDE BY SIDE IN HKG. WISH
THAT TO CONTINUE - THIS IS A FACTOR IN OUR WISH TO ENCOURAGE
HMOCS OFFICERS TO STAY. PAYMENTS REFLECT FACT THAT HMOCS
OFFICERS LOSING THEIR STATUS AS OF 30 JUNE 1997.
WILL LOCAL OFFICERS WITH BRITISH PASSPORTS BE ELIGIBLE?
NO.
THIS SCHEME WILL ONLY APPLY TO PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN
APPOINTED AS MEMBERS OF HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE.
HOW DOES THIS TIE IN WITH HKG'S LIMITED COMPENSATION SCHEME? SURELY THIS IS DOUBLE BENEFITS?
HKG'S SCHEME IS TO FACILITATE LOCALISATION. THIS HMG SCHEME RECOGNISES THAT AT THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY HMOCS OFFICERS IN
HONG KONG SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THE LOSS OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S PROTECTION, WHICH DERIVES FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIP OF HMOCS. NO DOUBLE BENEFITS.
PREVIOUS SCHEMES ALLOWED EARLY RETIREMENT AND PAYMENT OF PENSION AT CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY. WILL YOURS?
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