TNAG-2420-FCO40-3522-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 190

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MDHOAN 1901

SECRET

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 548

OF 24170OZ MARCH 92

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

118

Mr Shard 613

Miss Willams

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(Ver

good suite of

telegrams)

UKREP JLG TELNO 91: HMOCS: BRIEFING FOR THE CHINESE

1

WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHAT LINE TO ASK UKREP JLG TO TAKE

IF THE CHINESE ASK WHAT OBLIGATIONS HMG HAS TO HONG KONG HMOCS OFFICERS, IN ADDITION TO COMPENSATION.

2.

DEPARTMENTS HERE CONSIDER, SUBJECT TO YOUR, UKREP'S AND PEKING'S VIEWS, THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE THE FOLLOWING LINE.

BEGINS

IN ADDITION TO THE QUESTION OF COMPENSATION, THERE ARE TWO OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR HMOCS OFFICERS IN OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES AT THE TIME OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, WHICH WE CONSIDER RELEVANT IN THE HONG KONG CONTEXT:

(A) OFFICERS WHO ARE RETAINED IN THE SERVICE OF THE PREVIOUSLY DEPENDENT TERRITORY SHOULD ENJOY TERMS OF SERVICE NO LESS FAVOURABLE THAN BEFORE, INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO SALARIES, ALLOWANCES, BENEFITS, AND PENSION ENTITLEMENTS. IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG THESE POINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FULLY COVERED BY THE JOINT DECLARATION AND BASIC LAW:

(B) HMOCS OFFICERS WHO HAVE WORKED IN OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES HAVE RECEIVED ON INDEPENDENCE A COMMITMENT BY SUCCESSOR GOVERNMENTS TO SAFEGUARD THE STERLING VALUE OF THEIR PENSIONS. HMOCS OFFICERS IN HONG KONG HAVE REQUESTED SOME GUARANTEE OR SAFEGUARD THAT THE STERLING VALUE OF THEIR PENSIONS WILL BE MAINTAINED. HMG AND HKG HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING WHAT IF ANY ARRANGEMENTS MIGHT APPROPRIATELY BE MADE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG. NO DECISIONS HAVE YET BEEN TAKEN.

ENDS