TNAG-2271-FCO40-3270-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-corr-1991 — Page 220

AECS

Ref. R6

Lord Caithness

Minister of State

Foreign and Commonwealth Office c/o Government House, Hong Kong

Received in hele.

Draft reply please.

GF

At 25 Ganuary 1991

Mr Stone Ms Coylin

- drain plsc

2

- draft pls. 74/2

4/2

Dear Minister,

Your interest in the "spouses of full British Citizens" problem raised with you

at the 20th September meeting with the Staff Side of the Senior Civil Service Council is appreciated, as is the advice as to the measures intended in Mr. Tibber's letter of the 15th November.

I am now writing with regard to the particular concerns of HMOCS members employed in Hong Kong on pensionable terms who are members of the AECS (Association of Expatriate Civil Servants). The Association represents expatriate civil servants (but not the Police). You may be familiar with some of the problems already as a result of previous representations made to the FCO by both the AECS and the Overseas Service Pensioners' Association (OSPA), the Association representing our members and others - once they have retired. The numbers are not large. There are about 350 "civil" serving officers on pensionable terms and numbers of HMOCS members in the Police are similar, bringing the total to slightly over 700.

would regard

X and

-

We had asked for an opportunity to see you during your visit as you then be better able to gauge the extent of members' genuine concern with to their future circumstances. Unfortunately this will not be possible

I enclose a copy of our Briefing Note addressing matters of concern to us. Those at present of primary concern are

(a) that pensions are paid, and

(b)

that their real value in sterling terms is maintained.

The question of payment is one that is common ground with our local colleagues. The Joint Declaration provides that pensions will be paid but genuine concern does exist and is affecting morale.

the

SPOS (Supplementary Pension for Overseas Service) purports to maintain

1 £ sterling value of overseas pensions of retired HMOCS members by adjusting

for

any difference in the rates of inflation as between the UK and the country of payment, pensions in our case being paid in Hong Kong in HK$. Unfortunately

it doesn't in fact do this, largely because of exchange rate fluctuations.

1

ASSOCIATION OF EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS OF HONG KONG

ROOM G12 CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG TEL: 5-220568