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 public officers' agreement, be provided for
them between now and 1997.
We
As I have told my noble Friend in previous debates the Government
recognise that the transition of Hong Kong to a Special
Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China on
on 1 July
1997 will raise problems in relation to HMOCS comparable to those
raised in other dependent territories at independence. We also
accept that there should be comparable arrangements to deal with
these problems, for instance on matters affecting compensation.
expect to have discussions in due course with the Hong Kong
Government on all these matters, since it will fall to the latter to
implement and finance such arrangements as might be agreed. I
cannot of course anticipate the outcome of any such discussions, but
one of the questions which would need to be covered would be at what
stage any arrangements for compensation would need to be introduced.
How such arrangements should be expressed is obviously another
question for discussion. 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.
But I would sound one note of caution. I f 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.
in
current
As I have said, the Government is firmly of the view that
circumstances the pensions and benefits of the Hong Kong Civil
Service, including members of HMOCS in Hong Kong, are not a subject
upon which there is a need to legislate in the manner proposed in
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
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