TNAG-0205-FCO40-241-Pensions-policy-1970 — Page 70

171

Reference.... HKK 18/35

with (3)

Mr. Carter

2.

Please see (6).

These proposals for HMG to assume responsibility for the payment of certain overseas pensioners are making, I understand, more rapid progress than at first we expected. The reason for this seems to be the imminent repudiation by Kenya of that Government's responsibility for pensions.

3. I am still considering the details of these complicated proposals: there is an internal FCO meeting on the subject tomorrow. But in the mean- time we need to put down urgently a marker indicating the possible consequences for Hong Kong if there were an early announcement of HMG's new policy including, as I understand may be the case, some commitment in respect of still dependent territories. I am told that Fiji is critical of the present policy and there is some support for entering now into a forward commitment in respect of that Colony. Even if there is no explicit forward commitment it is certain that dependent territories will assume that when their turn comes their pension bill will also be picked up. This has obvious significance for Hong Kong but less dangerous, I think you would agree, if there were no explicit undertaking. propose a minute to FPAD (copied to the other Departments concerned) on the lines of the attached draft.

I

Men

(H. H. Stewart) 17 November, 1969

S

A Gy que

with

your

mmute

subject to

2.

Jews amendments.

We must try and

and avoid

any explat

Commitment to dependent territories and

The assumption of any commitment to

a

territory before it is independent of either

If there

scheme

ame

likely to be incorporated in the

Then

5 think we shall weed to

submit to higher authority.

use

17/11