TNAG-0943-FCO40-1162-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 198

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Reference ....PD.201/77/01.......

Mr Williamson

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Hong Kong & General Department FCO - through Mr. Burner.

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MPS LETTER: HONG KONG

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1714

While I fully accepted in our recent telephone conversation that ODA should deal with an enquiry about the general terms of compensation arrangements for expatriate public servants at the time of independence of former colonial territories, I was quite unaware from your explanation of the context in which Mr Mitchell's question was raised.

see 23

We have no idea what arrangements will apply to Hong Kong Government officers who are in service in 1997 and for me to send Mr Mitchell, through his MP, copies of Public Officers Agreements and compensation schemes concluded in the 1960's for Colonial Service Officers in India, Burma and Africa would not only be misleading but also dangerous. HMG should certainly not commit itself to MPs or their constituents at this stage even by implication to any form of safeguard, or compensation for Hong Kong officers serving in 1997.

Can you agree therefore to draft the reply to the MP in whatever terms FCO have used elsewhere to answer enquiries about the future of Hong Kong officers after 1997 and explaining that Burma, India and Africa are not relevant to the situation?

furviuby

J W WILLBY

Head of Pensions Department

17 Apr. 1980.