TNAG-2417-FCO40-3519-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 44

cst.ps/11jm19.12

:

HKCC 233/1

CONFIDENTIAL

R

زمانی کار

1.cc Mr Fatman

2. PA

Treasury Chambers Parlament Street. SWIP BAG

The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe QC MP Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Foreign & Commonwealth Office

King Charles Street

London.

SW1A 2AH ›

N

++KW

.CP.

37x

Mr. 12 tes

M Glos

19

December 1988

"

こい

HONG KONG: GENERAL COMPENSATION SCHEME

34.

Thank you for your minute of 24 November to Nigel Lawson outlining the measures you consider necessary to compensate members of Her Majesty's Overseas

(HMOCS)

the transfer following

Service

Sovereignty to the Chinese in 1997.

is

of

adequate whether a form of

I recognise that it is desirable that sufficient numbers of HMOCS should stay on in Hong King after 1997 to ensure continuity

administration. in public

But deciding further inducement

if so, what necessary, and, inducement would be materially effective are clearly difficult

reasons However I understand your matters of judgement. believing that

general compensation scheme for expatriate officers should be drawn up and announced shortly, scheme should be funded by HMG. I note that you expect it to cost between £10 and £20 million over the 10 years from 1997.

a

for

and that the

As you have acknowledged, the vote responsibility would aturally fall to the FCO/ODA. I think you are right to suggest hat diversion of aid funds to a territory not qualifying for would not be defensible. But I do not think I can give any so far in advance of undertaking on the source of the funds requirement. If we commit ourselves to a financial obligation our successors will naturally recognise the force of that

commitment.

But I am sure that they will want to agree precisely how to meet it in PES terms in the light of the circumstances then prevailing.

I should be most grateful to be kept in touch with progress.

I am copying this letter to Chris Patten.

JOHN MAJOR

JOHN