365
SECRET
TOP COPY Q DIST?
072155 MDHOAN 5546
SECRET FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 462
OF 051643Z JUNE 92
AND TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
HKA 233/1
PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR MR GALSWORTHY HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
361
360
YOUR TELNO 792 AND UKREP JLG TELNO 262: HONG KONG HMOCS: EARLY RETIREMENT
1.
AS REPORTED IN A SEPARATE TELEGRAM, MINISTERS WISH US TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO SEE WHETHER WE CAN FIND A WAY ROUND THE
DIFFICULTIES.
2.
WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHETHER THERE IS ANY ALTERNATIVE TO THE PRESENT POLICY OF TELLING HMOCS OFFICERS THAT, DESPITE THE CLEAR COMMITMENT IN THE 1960 WHITE PAPER OF HMOCS OFFICERS AND SUBSEQUENT PRACTICE IN OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, HMG PROPOSE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT PROVIDING THEM WITH A RIGHT TO RETIRE, WITH IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF PENSION, WHETHER BEFORE OR AFTER 30 JUNE
1997.
3. WE ENTIRELY RECOGNISE THAT THE KIND OF 'BEST ENDEAVOURS' ASSURANCE SKETCHED OUT IN OUR TELNO 455 WOULD NOT DO MUCH TO SATISFY HMOCS OFFICERS AND WOULD PROVOKE FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THEM AND PERHAPS FROM LOCAL OFFICERS. EVEN IF WE DECLINED TO ANSWER SUCH QUESTIONS, THERE WOULD BE A LOOSE END, WHICH IN THE VIEW OF MINISTERS HERE HAS SIGNIFICANT DISADVANTAGES. BUT SUCH AN ASSURANCE, OR EVEN A STILL MORE LIMITED ASSURANCE THAT WE WOULD KEEP THE MATTER UNDER REVIEW IN THE LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS AND IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE OVER COMING MONTHS AND YEARS, MIGHT BE MORE DEFENSIBLE THAN OUR PRESENT POSITION, PARTICULARLY IF WE FELT ANY CONFIDENCE THAT IT WILL IN DUE COURSE BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE SENSIBLE AND CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE ABOUT THE FUTURE ROLE OF EXPATRIATE OFFICERS AND FUTURE POLICY ON
LOCALISATION.
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