TNAG-1749-FCO40-2468-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 162

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TELNO 1966

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041036

MDHIAN 0434

YOUR TELNO 1270:

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT

WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS ASKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE SECRETARY OF STATE DURING HIS VISIT. THE TEXT OF THE LETTER, WHICH IS SIGNED BY MR G C S SMITH, CHAIRMAN, PENSIONABLE SERVICE COMMITTEE OF THE AECS, IS AS FOLLOWS:-

(QUOTE) WE SPOKE ON THE 19 MAY AND, AS REQUESTED, I AM WRITING TO SEEK AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SIR GEOFFREY HOWE DURING HIS NEXT

VISIT TO HONG KONG.

WE APPRECIATE THAT HIS TIME IS LIMITED AND THAT THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE MANY CLAIMS ON THIS. AS HOWEVER HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN CORRESPONDENCE ON SOME OF THE ISSUES ABOUT WHICH THE ASSOCIATION HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN TO THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE NOTABLY THE PROBLEMS OF MAINTAINING THE VALUE OF HMOCS MEMBERS' PENSIONS IN STERLING TERMS WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT TIME MAY BE AVAILABLE AND WILL APPRECIATE ANY ARRANGEMENTS THAT CAN BE MADE. (UNQUOTE)

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SUBJECT

2. SO FAR AS WE ARE AWARE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL NOT MEET ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AECS COMMITTEE DURING HIS VISIT. TO YOUR VIEWS WE THEREFORE PROPOSE TO REPLY AS IN PARA 2 OF TUR, LESS THE LAST 23 WORDS (BUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE

WILSON

TKB 027/3

.... ON 31 MAY).

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