CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1568
OF 301800Z AUGUST 91
нив 233 //
Qui
FOR SHIPLEY, CSB
(126)
A
128)
053140
MDHOAN 9680
YOUR TELNO 2686: ĦMOCS MATTERS
1. YOU ARE CORRECT THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WILL NOT MAKE ANY ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT COMPENSATION DURING HIS VISIT. IF ASKED
ABOUT THE SUBJECT WE HAVE PROPOSED THAT HE SHOULD USE THE SAME LINE AS IN LORD CAITHNESS' LETTER TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY OF
25 JULY.
2.
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IT WOULD BE REGRETTABLE IF THE ASSOCIATION DECIDED TO MAKE THE ISSUE MORE PUBLIC: BY APPROACHING MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND THE PRESS AND SEEKING WHAT AMOUNTS TO A JUDICIAL REVIEW. WE HAVE JUST FORMALLY WRITTEN TO THE TREASURY WITH THE DETAILED PROPOSALS WHICH EMERGED FROM DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN FCO MINISTERS. BUT THERE CAN BE NO GUARANTEE OF A QUICK OR POSITIVE RESPONSE.
3*
IF YOU CONSIDER IT WOULD HELP, WE WOULD NOT OBJECT TO YOUR SAYING THAT A NEW PHASE OF DETAILED INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CONSIDERATION HAS STARTED HERE: AND THAT WE FULLY APPRECIATE WHY HMOCS MEMBERS WANT THE ARRANGEMENTS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON AND ARE WORKING TO THAT END. IF THEY ASK FOR ASSURANCES THAT WE ARE WORKING ON A TRADITIONAL GENERAL COMPENSATION SCHEME, IT MIGHT HELP IF IN DUE COURSE (BUT NOT BEFORE THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT) YOU COULD GENTLY POINT OUT THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE IN KEEPING WITH OUR RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE JD TO WORK FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND WOULD BE VERY DIVISIVE WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
HURD
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