TNAG-1259-FCO40-1599-The-Future-of-Hong-Kong---special-study-by-FCO--August-1982--1983 — Page 123

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Pressure on HMG

26. In recent years, however, HMG have assumed the

liability to pay the pensions etc of HMOCS officers and

their dependants that previously rested with the Governments

of many dependancies or former dependencies.

No such arrange-

ments have so far been envisaged with the Government of the

colony of Hong Kong, but in the event of constitutional

change HMG may be pressed to take over this liability

in respect of Hong Kong. So long as HMG has effective

powers in relation to the territory, it may be possible to

resist this pressure.

Contingent Liability of HMG

27.

If, however, constitutional changes in respect of

Hong Kong take place and HMG are unable to make satisfactory

arrangements for the payment of pensions etc by the

government of the territory, or if that government

subsequently defaults on payments, HMG may be obliged to

assume liability for the HMOCS pensions and also perhaps

for some other pensions as well.

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