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FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 27120OZ FCO
TELNO 912
OF 27110OZ MARCH 92
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY
HKA 233/Q DIST?
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM GOVERNOR.
MIPT
171
032523
MDHIAN 8460
la
70713
HMOCS ASSOCIATION: LETTER FROM LORD CAITHNESS.
DEAR COLLEAGUE,
RESTRICTED
DRAFT D/O LETTER
TO SECRETARIES AND H OF D'S
HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE (HMOCS)
I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED HISTORICAL PRACTICE AND PRECEDENT, INTEND TO INTRODUCE AND FUND A COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR MEMBERS OF HMOCS SERVING IN HONG KONG WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S AUTHORITY OVER THEM CEASES IN 1997 UPON THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY. HMG WILL COMMENCE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF HMOCS OFFICERS CONCERNED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
HMOCS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1954 TO REPLACE THE SEPARATE BRANCHES OF HM COLONIAL SERVICE. MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO CERTAIN EXPATRIATE OFFICERS APPOINTED BY, OR ON BEHALF OF, THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO SERVE IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. WITH THE COMING OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES WORLD-WIDE FROM THE LATE 1950S ONWARD, HMOCS IS NOW A RAPIDLY DECLINING SERVICE. IN HONG KONG THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW APPOINTMENTS ELIGIBLE FOR HMOCS SINCE 1985. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 717 MEMBERS OF HMOCS IN THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE. ALL ARE OVERSEAS OFFICERS SERVING ON PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE TERMS OF SERVICE. HMG HAS A SPECIAL OBLIGATION TOWARDS MEMBERS OF HMOCS THAT IT HAS RECOGNISED IN ALL OTHER BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES.
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