SECRET
25
033254 MDHOAN 7657
HKA 233/5
TOP COPY DIST?
la
SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO
1107
OF 171738Z JULY 92
AND TO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING
PERSONAL FOR PS/GH FROM RICKETTS, HKD
PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR
UKREP PERSONAL FOR MR GALSWORTHY
17
19
OUR TELNO 1006 AND YOUR TELNO 1763: HMOCS ARRANGEMENTS: JUDICIAL OFFICERS
1.
MINISTERS ARE NOT CONVINCED THAT IT IS RIGHT TO CHANGE, IN THE CASE OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS, THE GENERAL CUT-OFF DATE OF 28 MARCH 1985 FOR FIRST RECRUITMENT. THEIR CONCERNS ARE PRIMARILY TWO-FOLD:
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO EXTEND THIS BENEFIT TO YET FURTHER PERSONS WHEN WE ARE HAVING SUCH DIFFICULTY WITH THE TREASURY ABOUT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR EXISTING HMOCS OFFICERS: AND
- CIRCUMSTANCES SUGGEST THAT THE JUDICIAL OFFICERS HAVE CHANCED UPON AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF THE ARRANGEMENTS WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING FOR HMOCS. THIS WAS NOT THE PURPOSE OF INTRODUCING THE ARRANGEMENTS.
2.
ON THE OTHER HAND, MINISTERS RECOGNISE THAT THE JUDICIAL OFFICERS ARE LIKELY TO MAKE A FUSS IF THEY ARE EXCLUDED, AND THERE IS AN ARGUMENT THAT WE WERE AT FAULT, IN 1986 WHEN THEIR CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WERE ALTERED, IN NOT TELLING THEM THEIR RIGHT TO TRANSFER HAD BEEN TERMINATED ALONG WITH ALL OTHER OFFICERS BY THE 28 MARCH 1985 CUT-OFF.
3. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE ON THE TWO POINTS OF CONCERN, THE DEGREE OF FUSS LIKELY IF WE HOLD TO THE 1985 CUT-OFF DATE AND THE LIKELY ATTITUDE OF THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION (WHO HAVE HITHERTO SHOWED LITTLE SYMPATHY FOR CONTRACT OFFICERS). IT STRIKES US THAT THE JUDICIAL OFFICERS IN QUESTION TOOK NO STEPS TO TRANSFER TO
PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE TERMS EARLIER: THEY DO NOW SEEM TO BE TRYING TO PICK UP A WINDFALL.
HURD
PAGE
SECRET
1