TNAG-2096-FCO40-2985-HM-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-general-correspondence-1990 — Page 126

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 742

OF 280444Z FEBRUARY 90

CONFIDENTIAL

007736

MDLIAN 2066

YOUR TELNOS 371 AND 431:

MP'S LETTER: CIVIL SERVICE MATTERS

WE FEEL THAT YOUR PROPOSED REPLY TO MR PETER BOTTOMLEY MP IS PERHAPS TOO SPECIFIC AND AT THIS STAGE, WHEN MUCH STILL REMAINS TO BE DECIDED, IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO RESPOND IN MORE GENERAL TERMS. AS IT STANDS IT COULD GENERATE MORE QUESTIONS THAT IT ANSWERS AND GIVE RISE TO UNDUE ANXIETY, OR CONVERSELY RAISE UNWARRANTED EXPECTATIONS, AMONG OVERSEAS OFFICERS. THAT SAID WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE VARIOUS POINTS MADE IN YOUR DRAFT REPLY:-

(A)

(B)

(C)

PARAGRAPHS 3 AND 4: WE FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A REFERENCE TO JD 74 AND THE LIMITED COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR THOSE OFFICERS AFFECTED BY JD 74.

POA: IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO SAY THAT IN THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG, A POA MAY NOT BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE MEANS TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF HMOCS MEMBERS BUT THAT THIS AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES ARE BEING EXPLORED.

ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT RECORDS: WE DOUBT WHETHER WE CAN GIVE THE CATEGORICAL ASSURANCE CONTAINED IN THE DRAFT. SHOULD WE NOT SIMPLY SAY THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN, AND RECORDS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE SARG WILL BE THOSE WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO ENABLE IT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY?

2.

WE ARE FAXING TO STONE A SUGGESTED REDRAFT OF YOUR PROPOSED REPLY TO MR BOTTOMLEY. WE FEEL THAT YOUR REPLY TO THE

REPRESENTATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENTS' ASSOCIATION CAN BE COUCHED ALONG SIMILAR LINES. WE SHALL LET YOU HAVE OUR COMMENTS WITH THIS WEEK ON THE SPECIFIC POINTS RAISED IN YOUR TELNO 431.

WILSON

1

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