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MDHIAN 5682..
ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE SPOUSES OF (MOSTLY LOCAL) SPECIAL BRANCH OFFICERS WHO WERE DIRECTED TO RETIRE ON SENSITIVE SERVICE GROUNDS UNDER THE SPECIAL COMPENSATION SCHEME. IT WILL ALSO BE APPLIED TO CIVIL SERVICE SPOUSES OF ANY OTHER OFFICERS DIRECTED TO RETIRE ON SENSITIVE SERVICE GROUNDS UNDER THE LIMITED COMPENSATION SCHEME BEFORE 1997. THE CIVIL SERVICE SPOUSES RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION. THEY DO HOWEVER RECEIVE IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF PENSION BENEFITS IRRESPECTIVE OF AGE AS THE HKG HAS DIRECTED THEIR SPOUSE TO LEAVE THE SERVICE AND WE WISH TO AVOID FAMILY SEPARATIONS. THE CHINESE HAVE NO FORMAL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ARRANGEMENTS, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN REFERENCES TO IT IN THE PRESS.
4.
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THERE ARE HOWEVER TWO DIFFICULTIES WITH YOUR PROPOSAL:
(A) SUCH A PROCEDURE COULD NOT SURVIVE BEYOND 30 JUNE 1997. HMOCS OFFICERS WOULD HAVE TO BE TOLD THIS. THEY WOULD THUS HAVE TO GO BEFORE 1997 OR STAY ON UNTIL NORMAL MINIMUM RETIREMENT AGE.
(B) IT WOULD EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO KEEP SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT SECRET. IT WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY BE NECESSARY TO PUT OUTLINE DETAILS IN WRITING TO THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION. HMOCS OFFICERS WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE BRIEFED DISCREETLY, IN SMALL GROUPS OF GRADES OR RANKS INVOLVED: BUT EVEN WITH THESE PRECAUTIONS, IT IS INEVITABLE THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BECOME
KNOWN PUBLICLY.
5.
IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO SET A MINIMUM NOTICE PERIOD OF AT LEAST 12 MONTHS TO REDUCE ANY BUNCHING WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE OCCUR. 1 JANUARY 1996 WOULD THEREFORE HAVE TO BE USED AS A DEADLINE FOR GIVING NOTICE. OFFICERS WOULD HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT AT MOST ONLY SIX MONTHS FINAL NOTICE OF APPROVAL COULD BE GIVEN BY THE HKG. IN THE CASE OF THE POLICE FORCE WE WOULD HAVE TO ASK POLICE MANAGEMENT TO ASSIST IN THE PLANNING EXERCISE.
6. WE DO NOT FACE A PROBLEM ABOUT OFFICERS WITH LESS THAN TEN YEARS SERVICE. UNDER OUR PENSIONS LEGISLATION IT IS TEN YEARS QUALIFYING SERVICE WHICH COUNTS, NOT PENSIONABLE SERVICE. ALL HMOCS OFFICERS WILL HAVE OVER TEN YEARS QUALIFYING SERVICE, BECAUSE (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TWO IN THE JUDICIARY) THEY WERE ALL FIRST APPOINTED EITHER ON CONTRACT OR PENSION BEFORE 28 MARCH 1985. THERE SHOULD THEREFORE BE NO NEED TO INVOKE THE LIMITED COMPENSATION SCHEME.
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