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MATTERS IN THAT LIGHT WOULD ONLY SERVE TO REINFORCE THE UNDERLYING SUSPICIONS WHICH WILL BE PRESENT ANYWAY (PARAGRAPH 5 ABOVE).
8. AS SEEN FROM HERE, AND DESPITE THE OBSTACLE PRESENTED BY BASIC CHINESE ATTITUDES, THE FUTURE OF EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS IS A SUBJECT ON WHICH WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN A REASONABLY OPEN DEBATE WITH THE CHINESE BEFORE FINAL DECISIONS ARE TAKEN. THEY WILL KNOW FROM THE PRESS, AND FROM THEIR CONTACTS WITH INDIVIDUAL CIVIL SERVANTS, THAT THE QUESTION OF COMPENSATION FOR HMOCS MEMBERS IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED ALONG WITH RELATED MATTERS. THE DILEMMA WHICH MINISTERS FACE (PARAGRAPH 5 OF TUR) COULD BE EXPLAINED TO THEM, AND THE VARIOUS WAYS OF DEALING WITH IT OUTLINED. THE FINANCIAL AND OTHER IMPLICATIONS COULD BE SPELLED OUT CAREFULLY. THERE ARE OBVIOUS RISKS IN THIS APPROACH, BUT I DO NOT THINK WE HAVE MUCH TO LOSE. WE ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO GET INTO REAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THEM IF WE DECIDE ON A COURSE OF ACTION WITHOUT PRIOR DISCUSSION AND PRESENT IT TO THE CHINESE ON A TAKE IT OR
LEAVE IT BASIS.
9.
TIMING WOULD NEED TO BE JUDGED CAREFULLY.
WE WOULD WANT TO
GET THE PRESENT AIRPORT PROBLEM OUT OF THE WAY FIRST. BUT WE AGREE WITH THE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE RAISED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
MCLAREN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
40
DISTRIBUTION
40
.HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS
.CIVIL SERVICE RESTRICTED HKD
LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
FED
NEWS D
RAD//MR WYE
OVERSEA PENSIONS/ODA//MR FISH
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/PUS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
MR KERBY
RMD
NNNN
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