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HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE
4.
General
The resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong by the People's Republic of China raises similar issues in respect of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service as independence has raised in other dependent territories.
The Government fully recognise the particular concerns of HMOCS officers in Hong Kong and will continue to keep their interests, as
well as the interests of local civil servants, contract officers and
other expatriate officers, in mind in the years leading to 1997.
5.
Public Officers Agreement
I do not rule out a public officers agreement in due course.
But is is possible that in the unique circumstances of Hong Kong there may prove to be other ways of laying down the provisions to be applied to members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service. Indeed some areas normally covered by such agreements have already been satisfactorily set out in the Joint Declaration, which provides for continuity of service and of terms and conditions of service, including pensions, and in a limited compensation scheme introduced. last year by the Hong Kong Government.
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