CONFIDENTIAL
Capes
Ver PAN
AM
12/5
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 1269
OF 11080OZ MAY 92
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP
·HKA 233
"
BiPa
r
307
174451
MDHIAN 3440
FROM COX (HKD) AND FISH (ODA), VISITING.
HMOCS CONSULTATIONS: 7-11 MAY 1992.
SUMMARY
1. DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS. HM OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE (HMOCS) TEAM PRESS FOR TRADITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: FULL COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OF CAREER IN CROWN SERVICE, STERLING SAFEGUARD FOR PENSIONS, AND RIGHT TO RETIRE EARLY WITH IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF EARNED PENSION. THEY REJECT OUR BENEFITS (''COMPENSATION/INCENTIVE'') PROPOSAL AS OFFERING NO FAIR BASIS FOR DISCUSSION: CALL FOR A PACKAGE APPROACH AND FURTHER CONSULTATIONS ON REVISED PROPOSALS. WE PRESS THEM HARD, EXTENDING OUR STAY AND WARNING THAT THESE MAY BE THE LAST CONSULTATIONS BEFORE FINAL MINISTERIAL DECISIONS ON THE BENEFITS SCHEME: WE ELICIT A FEW DETAILED COMMENTS WITHOUT PREJUDICE''. OTHERS TO FOLLOW IN WRITING NEXT WEEK.
DETAIL
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2. CARTLAND (ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE) AND BIRCH (RHKP) REPRESENTED THE COMMITTEE OF THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION FOR THESE CONSULTATIONS. DISCUSSION WITH OTHER HMOCS OFFICERS AT A RECEPTION FOR US ON 9 MAY TENDED TO CONFIRM HKG'S ADVICE THAT BOTH EXERCISE A MODERATING INFLUENCE ON MANY OF THEIR COLLEAGUES. HOWEVER EVEN THEY SEEMED TO CONSIDER OUR PROPOSAL INSULTINGLY INADEQUATE, RATHER THAN A USEFUL FIRST STEP. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS NOT HELPED BY THE DISRUPTION AND PRESSURES ON COMMITTEE MEMBERS DUE TO THE FLOODING ON 8 MAY CONE OF WHOSE VICTIMS WAS THE SON OF AN HMOCS OFFICER) AND OTHER INCIDENTS. BUT THE TEAM PRESENTED THEIR CASE CALMLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
3.
WE INSISTED THAT THESE WERE GENUINE CONSULTATIONS AND THAT MINISTERS WOULD TAKE NO FINAL DECISIONS UNTIL WE HAD REPORTED FULLY AND FAIRLY ON THE ASSOCIATION'S VIEWS. WE SAID THAT THE STERLING SAFEGUARDS QUESTION WAS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION AND THAT WE COULD NOT SAY WHEN DECISIONS WOULD BE TAKEN OR IN WHAT SENSE. ON THE OTHER MATTERS MINISTERS HAD ALREADY TAKEN A PROVISIONAL VIEW AND FORMULATED THE PROPOSALS WHICH WE HAD ALREADY OUTLINED AND COULD
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