TNAG-2097-FCO40-2986-HM-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-general-correspondence-1990 — Page 57

SECRET FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 1998

OF 26120OZ OCTOBER 90

SECRET

HKB 431 4

C

Q DIST ?

005376

MDLOAN 1384

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD

POSSIBLE TRANSFER INTO THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE BY HOMCS MEMBERS

1.

WE HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM

IN SPECIAL BRANCH, ASKING WHAT ASSISTANCE WE CAN GIVE WITH THE OUTPLACEMENT OF HMOCS MEMBERS OF WHOSE CAREERS WILL END AS A RESULT OF THE CONSITUTIONAL CHANGE. WE ARE FAXING A COPY TO PS/GH. NOW CONSIDERING HOW TO REPLY.

WE ARE

2. WE ARE, OF COURSE, AWARE OF THE REFERENCES TO ASSISTANCE FOR HMOCS OFFICERS IN THE 1954 WHITE PAPER AND THE 1960 COMMAND PAPER 1193. THE FORMER STATES THAT HMG WILL ENDEAVOUR TO FIND ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE PERSONS WHOSE EMPLOYMENT IS TERMINATED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. THE LATTER SIMILARLY STATES THAT HMG WILL DO ALL IN THEIR POWER TO ASSIST OFFICERS WHO LEAVE THAT SERVICE TO FIND OTHER SUITABLE EMPLOYMENT.

3. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE OF COURSE NOW SOME 30 YEARS OLD. BUT I ASSUME THAT HMOCS OFFICERS IN HONG KONG CONTINUE TO GIVE WEIGHT TO THE ASSURANCES THEY CONTAIN.

THERE IS PROBABLY LITTLE IN PRACTICE WE CAN DO. BUT THE POSITION OF HMOCS MEMBERS IN THE SPECIAL BRANCH AND THE OTHERS WHO ARE BEING RETIRED EARLY FOR SECURITY REASONS MAY REQUIRE FURTHER THOUGHT.

4. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHAT CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THESE MATTERS AND WHETHER THE ISSUE OF OUTPLACEMENT HAS ARISEN IN DISCUSSION WITH PERSONNEL FROM SPECIAL BRANCH.

HURD

YYYY

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN

CLOSED UNDER

FOLEXEMPTION NO.

140(2), 38

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