XN000022-1984-12-06 — Page 13

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1984

IN THAT CONNECTION WELCOME THE WHITE PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. IT PROVIDES FOR SUBSTANTIAL DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS IN THE 1985 ELECTIONS, AND FOR THE PROSPECT OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN THIS DIRECTION FOLLOWING A FURTHER REVIEW IN 1987, WHICH WILL CONSIDER ALSO THE QUESTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS. AT THE SAME TIME IT RIGHTLY AVOIDS SUDDEN AND DRAMATIC CHANGES WHICH COULD UNSETTLE THE VERY STABILITY WHICH ALL OUR EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO SECURE. I HAVE ALREADY TOLD THE HOUSE THAT WE REGARD THIS NEXT 12 YEARS AS CRUCIAL. WE SHALL NEED TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, WE SHALL NEED TO KEEP CONSTANTLY IN MIND THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG AND THEIR (SIC) FUTURE POSITION AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

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INTERJECTION (NAME UNCLEAR) THERE IS ONE IMPORTANT MATTER TO WHICH MY RIGHT HONOURABLE FRIEND HAS NOT REFERRED AND WHICH IS REFERRED TO ONLY BRIEFLY IN THE WHITE PAPER, AND THAT IS THE POSITION OF THE BRITISH EXPATRIATE STAFF IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF HK. WILL MY RIGHT HONOURABLE FRIEND BEAR IN MIND THAT ON ALL PREVIOUS OCCASIONS WHEN A COLONY HAS ACHIEVED ITS INDEPENDENCE THERE HAS BEEN A PUBLIC OFFICERS' AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE FUTURE CAREER PROSPECTS, FOR THE PENSIONS, AND FOR COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OF OFFICE ARISING OUT OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES, TO BE MADE FOR ALL SUCH PEOPLE. WILL MY RIGHT HONOURABLE FRIEND GIVE AN UNDERTAKING THAT SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE, THE MEMBERS OF HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE IN HK?

HOWE: I AM GRATEFUL TO MY HONOURABLE AND LEARNED FRIEND FOR RAISING THAT POINT. AS HE POINTED OUT, THE DRAFT AGREEMENT IN ANNEX ONE PART FOUR DOES PROVIDE SATISFACTORILY FOR CONTINUITY OF SERVICE BY SERVING OFFICERS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF HONG KONG ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INCLUDING PAY AND PENSIONS, NO LESS FAVOURABLE THAN BEFORE THE FIRST OF JULY 1997. AND THOSE PROVISIONS APPLY TO MEMBERS OF HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE SERVING IN HONG KONG AS WELL AS (UNHEARD) CIVIL SERVANTS. RESUMPTION OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG BY THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA DOES RAISE SIMILAR (UNCLEAR) IN RESPECT OF THE, OF HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE (UNCLEAR). IT IS NOT POSSIBLE, HOWEVER TO DEFINE NOW TWELVE AND A HALF YEARS IN ADVANCE OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE - ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WILL APPLY TO MEMBERS OF HMOCS SERVING IN HONG KONG AND THE PAYMENT OF THEIR PENSIONS BY THE HONG KONG SAR AFTER THE FIRST OF JULY 1997; AT THIS STAGE I DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO WHAT IS IN THE AGREEMENT. YOU HAVE SEEN THAT...... (UNCLEAR PHRASE).

/INTERJECTION