17-DEC-1991 18:36
HK GOVERNMENT HOUSE
ASSOCIATION OF EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS OF HONG KONG
Pensionable Service Committee
+852 521 1868
P.05
BRIEFING NOTE
On 1st April 1990 the total strength of the Hong Kong Public Service was over 188,000, more than 98 per cent of this number being local officers. Our Association represents expatriate civil servants, other than Police; membership is in the order of 1,300 of whom 22 per cent are pensionable officers.
We are a minority in a minority.
In July 1997 the sovereignty of the British Colony of Hong Kong will be tranferred to the government of the People's Republic of China. The Sino-British Joint Declaration requires that the senior positions in the future government of the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong shall be Chinese nationals, although expatriate officers may be employed in lower positions or as advisers.
Until 1997 the decreasing number of expatriate officers will have an important role in the maintenance of an effective British administration and a smooth transition to the new Special Administrative Region government. However, in carrying out their duties these officers are faced with diminishing career prospects and, for most, the end of employment in the public service. Morale is being adversely affected by the uncertainties of the future and the particular concerns about their conditions of service and pension expectations. The main problems are set out in the following paragraphs.
Security of Pensions
Pensions are granted by the Hong Kong Government and are paid only in Hong Kong dollars. For the post 1997 situation Article 101 of the Basic Law states-
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'The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall pay to public servants who retire or leave the service in compliance with regulations as well as those who have retired or left the service in compliance with regulations before the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, or to their dependents, all pensions, gratuities, allowances, and benefits due to them on terms no less favourable than before, and irrespective of their nationality or place of residence.'
The expatriate officers, most of whom are members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service (HMOCS), have doubts as
Article 102
in fach.
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