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HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
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HONG KONG TELNO 1269 HMOC'S CONSULTATIONS: EARLY RETIREMENT
SUMMARY
1. REQUEST FOR FURTHER ADVICE ON LIKELY CHINESE APPROACH TO ROLE OF EXPATRIATE STAFF IN SAR PUBLIC SERVICE, PACE OF LOCALISATION AND EARLY RETIREMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR HMOCS OFFICERS.
DETAIL
2.
WE NEED TO PREPARE ADVICE FOR MINISTERS ON THE WAY FORWARD
IN THE LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSIONS SUMMARISED IN TUR. A CENTRAL QUESTION IS THE HMOCS DEMAND FOR THE RIGHT TO RETIRE EARLY WITH IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF PENSION. WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE VIEWS IN YOUR TELNO 563, AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE ISSUES WITH THE GOVERNOR AND CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH. BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL NOW TO HAVE FULLER ADVICE ON THE LIKELY CHINESE APPROACH TO THE
ISSUES AS SET OUT BELOW.
BACKGROUND
3. THE 1960 WHITE PAPER STATES AS ONE OF THE BROAD PRINCIPLES WHICH SHOULD BE APPLIED IN ANY FUTURE COMPENSATION SCHEME, WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE CEASES TO HAVE CONTROL/PROTECTION OVER HMOCS OFFICERS, THAT OFFICERS SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO RETIRE WITH COMPENSATION. THE SUBSEQUENT PRACTICE IN ALL DEPENDENT TERRITORIES ATTAINING SELF-GOVERNMENT WAS FOR OFFICERS TO HAVE A RIGHT TO RETIRE AT, OR SOMEWHAT BEFORE, THE TIME OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND AT ANY POINT OF THEIR CHOICE
THEREAFTER: IN ALL CASES EARNED PENSION WAS PAYABLE IMMEDIATELY.
4.
SINCE 1987/88 WE HAVE NOT REVIEWED IN DEPTH THE POSSIBLE APPLICATION OF THIS PRINCIPLE TO HONG KONG HMOCS OFFICERS. COUR PRESENT PROPOSALS ARE ESSENTIALLY IMPLEMENTING DECISIONS TAKEN BY SIR GEOFFREY HOWE AND AGREED WITH MR MAJOR, THEN CHIEF
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