TNAG-1210-FCO40-1513-Hong-Kong-laws-on-homosexuality-employment-of-homosexuals-wi-1982 — Page 65

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CONFIDENTIAL

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that telegram deals with offences involving males.

This

appears to introduce a substantive weakness into Hong Kong's

case and I have sought clarification of it.

4.

The Hong Kong Law Reform Commission has considered the

present legislation and is expected to report to the Governor

later this year. It will not, however, be easy to change the

law. Local Chinese opinion holds that homosexuality is alien

to Chinese culture and it would be difficult for the Chinese

members of UMELCO to endorse any relaxation of the law given

strongly held views of the majority of the community.

5.

In the FCO there is no formal bar to the employment of

homosexuals. But we are a fully PV'd Department. Present

security rules take the view that homosexuality raises a

presumption of unfitness for employment in posts requiring

PV or NV clearance. So without PV clearance there are

virtually no career prospects in the FCO. Those revealed

to be homosexual during their probationary period are therefore

advised to transfer to the Home Civil Service where there are

opportunities for a normal career without PV clearance.

Where officers are revealed later in their careers to be

homosexual, they are similarly advised of the severe

limitation which this places on their career prospects and

are encouraged to transfer to the Home Civil Service.

the situation is clearly different from that in Hong Kong

because of the legal position there.

22 February 1982

Бир

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

CONFIDENTIAL

However