TNAG-2099-FCO40-2988-HM-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-policy-matters-1990 — Page 37

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Reference

Ken Walker

Research and Analysis Department

I HKB 430/6

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- 9 MAY 150

DESK OFFICEU

INDEX

HMOCS

NATIONALITY OF LOCAL OFFICERS IN PREVIOUS COLONIAL GOVERNMENTS

1.

ot

In connection with potential liabilities arising from HMG

compensation HMOCS members at the change in sovereignty in 1997, I am trying to establish whether the nationality composition of the

Hong Kong Government is similar on that to other countries, colonies.

2.

A

HMG is obliged to pay some form and level of compensation to

HMOCS members in 1997. Exactly what and how is open to policy decision. I am now trying to analyse where such payments might put

us vis-a-vis with other HKG civil servants who muchi seek similar

protection/compensation should things go badly wrong in the Hong

Kong. With the nationality package, there will be about 17,000 local officers with full British citizenship. At least half of the civil service, and possibly a much higher percentage, will be British Dependent Territory Citizens (BDTC) (The rest will have certificates of identity).

3.

When the independent Governments of former colonies have

refused or been unable to pay the pension of HMOCS members, HMG has stepped in and picked up the tab. We have not come under pressure

to do anything for the local retired officers. There may be a number of reasons for this, not least of which being that they were

not integrated services: Expats and locals were different. But I

wonder whether the nationality split was also different.

4.

-

say

My query therefore is whether you are able to analyse the

nationality, prior to independence, of some previous services Nigeria or Uganda. What did the local officers hold no passport (because they had little need in those days); a local passport; the

CODE

18-77

ROZASO

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