SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 854
OF 260949Z MAY 93
SECRET
HKA 233/1
1993
TOP COPY Q DIST?
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
169
106616
MDHIAN 2292
Whiny
PERSONAL FOR MORRIS, HKD FROM PS/GH
166
YRTELNO 503: HMOCS ARRANGEMENTS, HK HMOCS ASSOCIATION
1. OUR TELNO 666 SET OUT THE VERY REAL CONCERNS AND FEELINGS AMONGST HMOCS OFFICERS IN HONG KONG ABOUT THE LACK OF ANY FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THE FACT THAT THE LONG PROMISED CONSULTATION VISIT HAS YET TO MATERIALISE. FEELINGS OF FRUSTRATION HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND MR CARTLAND IS NOW HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY RESTRAINING SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE. IT WOULD BE ADVISABLE TO BRIEF MR GOODLAD THAT HIS MEETING WITH MR CARTLAND WILL TAKE PLACE AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND.
2. HAVING SAID THAT, WE CAN SEE NO ALTERNATIVE TO USE OF THE LINE SET OUT IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF TUR WHEN MR GOODLAD MEETS MR CARTLAND AND A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE. IT WILL CERTAINLY NOT SATISFY THEM, BUT IT MAY ASSIST MR CARTLAND TO KEEP THE ISSUE UNDER WRAPS FOR A LITTLE LONGER. IN THIS CONTEXT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF MR GOODLAD COULD ALSO GIVE MR CARTLAND A LETTER RECORDING HMG'S AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE TO A REVISED COMPENSATION SCHEME INCLUDING RIGHT TO RETIREMENT AND THE PROVISION OF A STERLING PENSION SAFEGUARD. MR CARTLAND COULD THEN DEMONSTRATE, IF PRESSED BY MILITANT MEMBERS, THAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON ALL FRONTS OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
3. WE SHOULD ALL HOWEVER BE UNDER NO ILLUSION THAT THE SITUATION CAN BE CONTAINED FOR MUCH LONGER. A DECISION IS REQUIRED NOW AND WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR AN UPDATE ON THE ISSUES SET OUT IN OUR TELNO 774.
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