increased over the past six months.
It
HMG was beginning to focus on the problem. In answer to a question as to whether the HKG ́s objective was to keep as many expatriate officers as possible in the Government up to and after 1997, Mr. Wiggham said that it was the Government ́s intention. was in the interest of Hong Kong that the Government had continuity. He said however that HMG recognised that it had an obligation to individual HMOCS members. Mr. Glover referred to Baroness Young ́s statement in 1985 and asked what role the HKG was to play. Mr. Wiggham said that the HMG ́s role was to facilitate communication with HKG and that the HKG had done as much as it could, including efforts by the Governor himself. Mr. Pagliari asked whether, during Mr. Shipley ́s visits to London, discussion had taken place on both a general compensation scheme and sterling safeguards. Mr. Wiggham said that it had. (Messrs. Wiggham, Waters and Shipley left at this point).
Adoption of Constitution
8.
He
Mr. Glover was asked to explain the constitution to members. explained that the constitution had not been sent out to Members because there had been no funds for this purpose. The constitution had been made available to Members at tonight ́s meeting. It had been very carefully drafted and covered almost every eventuality and the Registrar of Societies had agreed to it. On a particular point, he explained that Article 3 of the Constitution was deliberately vaguely worded. This was done in order that the Association would not come under the definition of a Trade Union and thus debar members of the disciplined services from membership. Mr. Glover moved the adoption of the constitution. Mr. Steele seconded the motion and the constitution was adopted unanimously.
9.
Mr. Birch was asked to explain the nomination and balloting procedure for committee membership. He said that nominations for the 1992 committee should be made between the 28 January and 22 February. There were no nomination forms and nomination should be made by letter to the address contained in Article 1.2 of the constitution, i.e. Room G12, CGO, East Wing, Lower Albert Road, Hong Kong. Nominations signed by two members and the candidate should reach the secretary by 22 February. extraordinary meeting would be held on the 26 March. Ballot papers would be prepared by the interim committee when nominations had been received. The interim committee would continue to handle any business of the Association until the election was held.
Other Business
An
10.
In answer to a question, the Chairman said that the interim Committee had spoken to the UK team along the lines of his opening remarks. Members were free to remain in Hong Kong after the handover, but he had emphasized that arrangements similar to those made in almost 50 other territories during the change of sovereignty should apply in Hong Kong. The essential element was that British sovereignty terminated in all of them. He said that the concerns of HMOCS members in Hong Kong were demonstrated by the excellent turn out of the meeting tonight. The timing of the meeting had been carefully chosen and it could not have been delayed any longer. This was in part because of the deadline for opting for the New Pension Scheme. Members needed to know what was happening especially on sterling guarantees for pensions and on the general compensation scheme. However, there were a number of related issue which would need to be discussed. These included contingent liability for HMOCS pensions and further employment opportunities for HMOCS personnel.
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