TNAG-2419-FCO40-3521-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 70

HKA 233/1

COPIED TO FISH (COA)

16/3

AM.

The Association of Members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service (HMOCS) in Hong Kong

Record of proceedings at the Inaugural Meeting

of the Association held at the Volunteers ́ Officers Mess,

Beaconsfield House at 1800 hours on 28 January 1992.

Pa

110

HMOCS Polig

Approximately 400 members of HMOCS attended the inaugural meeting of the Association of HMOCS in Hong Kong at the Volunteers Officers' Mess on 28 January 1992. The meeting was chaired by Mr. M. Cartland. (The Members of the interim Committee were: Mr. C. Birch, Mr. D. Browning, Mr. A. Miller, Mr. I. Strachan, Mr. A. Stevenson-Hamilton, Mr. D. Weaver and Mr. I. Wotherspoon. The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr. B. Wiggham, the Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr. K. Shipley and the Principal Assistant Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr. M. Waters also attended.

2.

The Chairman explained the need to form an Association and for the Association to appoint a Committee. He went over the history of HMOCS since the early 1950s. In principle, Britain recognised its responsibility for officers of HMOCS, but in Hong Kong it would not be possible to have a Public Officer ́s Agreement since Britian was not handing over to an independent government. Mr. Cartland recalled that it was eight years since the Joint Declaration has been negotiated and there were only five years left before Hong Kong was returned to China. Although there were provisions in the Joint Declaration for expatriate officers to remain in Hong Kong after 1997, the Joint Declaration had not included any specific aitangements for HriOCS members. He read out a statement by Baroness Young, speaking for the Government in the House of Lords, in March 1985 viz

3.

"The Government fully recognises the particular concerns of HMOCS officers in Hong Kong and will continue to keep their interests in mind in the 12 years leading up to 1997, including the question of a public officers agreement. I do not rule out a public officers agreement in due course: such an agreement may prove to be the best means of laying down the provisions to be applied to HMOCS in Hong Kong in respect of benefits payable after 1997. It is equally possible that in the unique circumstances of Hong Kong there may prove to be other ways of achieving these ends. In due course there will need to be discussions with the Hong Kong Government on this subject. But I might sound one note of caution: if we wish to make arrangements which will be truly durable, and thus provide real assurance for HMOCS in Hong Kong, we should not make them precipitously or without full consultation and discussion of issue". (Hansard 14 March 1985 col 248).

Mr. Cartland said in the lead up to the transfer of sovereignty other territories had a mechanism for negotiating with HMG. He said it was reasonable to expect Britian to consult HMOCS officers serving in Hong Kong and offer terms similar to those given to HMOCS personnel in other territories. However, there had been no progress over the last eight years and it was now appropriate that HMOCS personnel should urge HMG to address their concerns in a timely manner.