19 November 1993
M D Cartland Esq
Chairman, The Association of
Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service
in Hong Kong
31st Floor Revenue Tower
5 Gloucester Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
296
London SW1A 2AH
HKA 233/
From The Minister of State
19.0 1993
Dear Michael.
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I am very pleased to inform you that decisions have been taken on a proposed package of benefits for HMOCS officers in Hong Kong.
Although my officials are still in the process of finalising the technical details of the package, I can assure the Association that its principal requests, namely a compensation scheme, a sterling pension safeguard scheme, early retirement with immediate payment of pension and amendment to the SPOS Regulations have been met.
Our intention is to provide the Association, in advance of its Annual General Meeting on 6 December, with an explanation of the SPOS amendment and its significance, a copy of a revised draft compensation scheme and a copy of the draft sterling pension safeguard scheme. If, however, the schemes cannot be completed in time, we will provide the Association with a full description of the main features of each scheme.
As regards further consultations between HMG and the Association, I propose that these should take place as early as possible after the Association has had sufficient time to study the schemes and to obtain comments from its members. Unless you consider that more time is required, I propose that consultations should take place about 3-4 weeks after you have received copies of the two schemes.
I am very grateful to the Association and its Committee for being so patient in awaiting decisions on this issue.
Yours sincerely,
p.p.
Grey Dorey
ALASTAIR GOODLAD
(Approved by the Minister and signed in his absence by Greg Dorey, his Private Secretary)