TNAG-2050-FCO40-2920-Visits-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and--1990 — Page 50

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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RECEIVE

21 NOV 1990

DESK OFF INDEX

PA

London SW1A 2AH

15 November 1990

TRY

Taken

Der di,

Lord Caithness has asked me to thank you for your letter of 20 September about police pay and conditions of service. Lord Caithness was glad to have had an opportunity to meet representatives of the Police Force Council Staff Association while he was in Hong Kong and to hear your views at first hand.

The Government attach great importance to the maintenance of an effective and well-motivated Police Force in Hong Kong. the Royal Hong Kong Police Force has an essential role to play in maintaining Hong Kong's stability and prosperity in the crucial years up to 1997, including the planned assumption of border duties.

As far as the current issues of pay and conditions of service are concerned, I know that the Hong Kong Government are well aware of your concerns. Substantial pay increases have recently been awarded to Junior Police officers and the Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service will be submitting further recommendations for the officer ranks towards the end of the

year.

I understand that the Commissioner of Police is also conducting a review of the consultative machinery for the Police Force to see whether any changes should be made. question of whether the Police should have recourse to a Committee of Inquiry in case the Official and Staff Sides cannot reach agreement is being addressed by the Administration in the context of an overall review of the consultative machinery in the Civil Service.

The

Police Force Council Staff Associations

Royal Hong Kong Police Force

Police Headquarters

Arsenal Street

Hong Kong

/I hope

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