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The payments that HMOCS members would receive under the modified compensation scheme would not be inconsiderable. They would average £7,000 per year at current exchange rates: although this figure would of course vary significantly depending on the officers salary, length of service and age. It also needs to be borne in mind that salaries and conditions of service for HMOCS officers in Hong Kong are, certainly currently, attractive. Officers receive high
salaries. The average HMOCS police officer current earns about
HK$33,000 pm (about £27,000 pa at an exchange rate of 1 to 14.5). The average Administrative Officer earns about £46,000 pa. Both receive highly subsidised housing and education and passages back to the UK either annually or biannually. These aspects should not be
ignored in weighing up what action is required to retain their
services and in comparing the action HMG has taken in previous
colonies.
Cost of the Scheme
18. The cost of such a modified compensation, based on an actuarial assessment, depends crucially on:
(a) the number of HMOCS members in service in 1997 and on how long
they remain in service after 1997;
(b) Hong Kong Civil Service Salary increases between now and 1997;
(c) whether any front end or other loading of payments is considered. It should be noted that in 1988 Ministers opted for a scheme including 10 possible equal payments.
Annex A sets out the "best", "worst" and "probable" case estimates
for the number of eligible HMOCS officers".
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