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Caithness had indicated, so the action we were taking now was simply carrying through that decision. Mr Cartland suggested that the implementation of HMG's long-standing commitments to HMOCS officers did not really constitute new decisions. Mr Cox differed: there was certainly much relevant historical background, but the circumstances of each dependent territory had always required a special approach.
8.
Mr Cartland said that within the Association there were many different points of view and, in giving the statement such a wide distribution, HMG would be inviting direct representations from individuals as well as from the Association itself. There would be an avalanche of responses. Mr Cox said that, while we felt obliged to receive and study individual representations, the consultations envisaged for the week beginning 4 May would be confined to the HMOCS Association, which we regarded as our partner for negotiation. Mr Cartland said that the Association had agreed to our request that only he and the Vice-Chairman attend the first meeting, but for the consultations in May they would wish to field a four-man team: it was necessary to include a representative of HMOCS police inspectors as well as of superintendants - they belonged to different staff associations.
9. The meeting concluded with discussion about how the Association should pass its views to HMG and how we should liaise about detailed points. Mr Cartland said that it would be convenient to use Civil Service Branch as a channel, eg because of their secure communciations with HMG. Mr Cox agreed in principle.
Hong Kong Department
9 April 1992
cc: Mr D Fish, Overseas Pensions Dept, ODA
Mr M Waters, Civil Service Branch, Hong Kong Mr C Garrett, UKRep JLG, Hong Kong
Mr C Osborne, BTC Hong Kong
Mr Ricketts
Mr Cox
Mr Stone
NC2ACP
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