{
seeing that adequate arrangements are made for the payment of
pensions earned in the service of the Government. As I explained to
my noble friend Lord Gridley when he raised this issue during the
debate on the Second Reading, the Government consider that the
agreement provides satisfactorily for the continuity of service by members of the public service in Hong Kong on terms and conditions,
including pay and pensions, no less favouable than on 30 June 1997.
,
In the debate on
19 February my noble friend Lord Gridley made
specific reference to the position of members of Her Majesty's
Overseas Civil Service in Hong Kong, and asked that a binding
agreement, such as a public officers' agreement, be provided for them between now and 1997. While the provisions of the agreement in
relation to pay and pension apply to members of HMOCS in Hong Kong
as much as they do to other civil servants I take this opportunity
to reiterate the response I gave my noble friend on 19 February
that the Government recognises the particular concerns of HMOCS
officers in Hong Kong, and will continue to keep their interests in
mind in the 12 years leading up to 1997, including the question of a
public officers' agreement. I do not rule out a public officers'
agreement in due course: such an agreement may prove to be the best
means of laying down the exact terms for HMOCS in Hong Kong after
1997. It is equally possible that in the unique circumstances of
Hong Kong there may prove to be other ways of achieving our ends.
In due Course there will need to be discussions with the Hong Kong
Government on this subject. But I would sound one note of caution.
If we wish to make arrangements which will be truly durable, and
thus provide a real reassurance for HMOCS in Hong Kong, we should
not make them precipitately or without full consultation and
discussion of the issues.
As I have said, the Government is firmly of the view that in current
circumstances the pensions and benefits of the Hong Kong Civil
Service, including members of HMOCS in Hong Kong, are
are not
not a subject
upon which there
a need to legislate in the manner proposed in
is
the amendment before the House. I hope that the assurances I have
given on the future position of the public service in Hong Kong will
satisfy my whole friend and the House as a whole, and that the noble Lord will not press his amendment.
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