TNAG-2096-FCO40-2985-HM-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-general-correspondence-1990 — Page 47

3

1

CORRECTED VERSION

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2787

OF 210920Z AUGUST 89

CONFIDENTIAL

ZOTION CO

6026

P(SP), Rosie C(P)SD

YRTELNO 1642: PENSIONS FOR MEMBERS OF HMOCS RETIRED TO U K

1. WE ARE AWARE OF THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PAYMENT OF PENSIONS TO MEMBERS OF HMOCS ELSEWHERE, OUTLINED IN PARA 2 OF TUR, BUT THESE ARE HARDLY RELEVANT TO HONG KONG'S CIRCUMSTANCES. HONG KONG IS NOT PROCEEDING TO INDEPENDENCE UNDER A POPULARLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT NOR IS IT REMAINING A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY. IT IS BEING HANDED OVER TO A FOREIGN POWER, THE GOVERNMENT OF WHICH IS DEEPLY MI STRUSTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE. BECAUSE OF THIS MISTRUST, CIVIL SERVANTS GENERALLY FEAR THAT THEIR PENSIONS WILL NOT BE PAID OR, IF THEY ARE, THAT THE LOCAL CURRENCY WILL COLLAPSE AND THEY WILL BECOME WORTHLESS. SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION BOTH LOCAL AND EXPATRIATE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN SEEKING GUARANTEED EXCHANGE RATES FOR THEIR PENSIONS, EITHER IN STERLING OR U.S. DOLLARS. NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE EVENTS OF JUNE 4 HAVE LED TO A RESURGENCE OF REQUESTS FOR PENSION SAFEGUARDS.

A: SCS

D:

HE,CS,PA(3),DPA,SMA,PS/GH

FILE NO:

AP 295/6-C (89) III

mw

/3. IT IS....

Note: Copied from (8) in AP 295/6-C (89) IV

CONFIDENTIAL