TNAG-0266-FCO40-302-Responsibility-of-UK-for-colonial-expatriate-pensions-of-Hon-1972 — Page 39

CYPHER/CAT-A-

CONFIDENTIAL

ROUTINE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 52

Pasions Police, Fill

TO HONG KONG

27TH JANUARY, 1970.

(MF)

CONFIDENTIAL.

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR.

OVERSEAS PENSIONS POLICY.

YOU WILL RECALL OUR BRIEF DISCUSSION WHEN YOU WERE HERE IN DECEMBER ABOUT A PROPOSAL THAT HMG MIGHT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR EXPATRIATE PENSIONS RELATING TO PRE-INDEPENDENCE SERVICE. WE WERE OF COURSE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE IMPACT IN HONG KONG OF

ANY SUCH PROPOSAL, AND IT WAS AGREED THAT WHEN OFFICIAL CONSIDERATION HERE WAS FURTHER ADVANCED WE WOULD SEEK YOUR VIEWS. 2. THE FOLLOWING PROPOSALS ARE NOW BEING EXAMINED AT OFFICIAL LEVEL:- (4) AS PART OF ITS POLICY TO AID DEVELOPMENT IN FORMER BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, HMG WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY AS FROM 1 APRIL, 1971, FOR THE COST (AND DIRECT PAYMENT) OF PENSIONS TO EXPATRIATE OFFICERS IN RESPECT OF PRE-

INDEPENDENCE GOVERNMENT SERVICE. THE ASSUMPTION OF SUCH A

RESPONSIBILITY WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN DETERMINING THE

TOTAL AMOUNT OF AID A COUNTRY MIGHT RECEIVE FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVING REGARD TO NEEDS AND TO THE FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE AID PROGRAMME. (B) AN EXTENSION OF THE ABOVE OFFER TO INCLUDE THOSE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES HAVING EXECUTIVE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONS.

(C) AN EXTENSION OF THE ABOVE OFFER TO INCLUDE ALL DEPENDENT

TERRITORIES.

AS YOU WILL SEE, ALL DEPENDENT TERRITORIES ARE EXCLUDED UNDER (A) AND HONG KONG (TOGETHER WITH QUITE A FEW OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES) WOULD BE EXCLUDED UNDER (B).

3. IT MUST BE EMPHASISED THAT NO CONCLUSIONS HAVE BEEN REACHED ON

THESE PROPOSALS NOR HAS THE PRINCIPLE OF PAYING EXPATRIATE PENSIONS BEEN AGREED: INDEED, NO CONSENSUS HAS EMERGED AT CFFICIAL LEVEL

ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE MADE TO MINISTERS.

4. YOU WILL APPRECIATE HOW VITAL IT IS THAT WE CONCEAL

THE FACT WE HAVE SUCH PROPOSALS UNDER CONSIDERATION AND WE

WOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONFINE YOUR CONSULTATIONS

TO SENIOR OFFICIALS.

STEWART

FILE S

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51

FIH. POL. & A.D.

HONG KONG DEPT.

MR. COMBS

MR. VILFORD

GGGGG

SIR L. MONSON

29 JAN 1970

інки 18/1

COPIES TO :

TIR. CAHILL, 0.D.M.

MR. HODGES, H.M. TREASURY

CONFIDENTIAL