TNAG-2059-FCO40-2937-Hong-Kong-Overseas-Service-Pensioners--Association-(OSPA)-1990 — Page 98

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HWB 233

RECEWED IN

DESK

2 1 MAY 1990

111213

MDHIAN 0348

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 14090OZ FCO

TELNO 1567

INDEX

OF 14084OZ MAY 90

YOUR TELNO 966 : PQ: STERLING SAFEGUARDS FOR PENSIONS

1. THE LAST SENTENCE OF YOUR PROPOSED REPLY SHOULD BE DELETED. THE CURRENT PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR PENSIONERS SUFFERING GENUINE HARDSHIP IS NOT REPEAT NOT DESIGNED TO PROTECT OVERSEAS PENSIONERS FROM THE EFFECTS OF CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS. IT IS A SCHEME, ON A VERY SMALL SCALE, TO HELP PENSIONERS IN DIFFICULTIES IN MEETING ONE OFF EXPENSES E.G. FUNERAL EXPENSES OR THE COST OF A WHEELCHAIR. IN ANY EVENT THE SCHEME HAS YET TO BE CONSIDERED BY EXCO.

~ U

2. THE STATEMENT THAT ''HONG KONG PENSIONERS.

DO REASONABLY WELL, CERTAINLY IN COMPARISON WITH THEIR UK COUNTERPARTS'' IS PROVOCATIVE AND IN THE CONTEXT OF STERLING SAFEGUARDS NOT ENTIRELY CORRECT. UK CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS ARE INDEX LINKED AND THEIR REAL VALUE IN STERLING TERMS IS MAINTAINED. THE SAME APPLIES TO ALL OTHER HMOCS PENSIONS. IT IS ONLY HONG KONG HMOCS PENSIONERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE PURCHASING POWER OF THEIR PENSIONS PRESERVED IN

STERLING TERMS.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

14

MINIMAL

ADDITIONAL

1

MR FISH, PENSIONS DEPT, ODA

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

15

HKD

1

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