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MDHOAN 381
CONTEXT AND TO PROVIDE MORE OF A LINK WITH THE HKG COMPENSATION
SCHEME.
(D) PARAGRAPH 4 ENDEAVOURS TO SET OUT MORE CLEARLY EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WE ARE PROPOSING. WE HAVE TAKEN ACCOUNT OF YOUR VIEW THAT THE FIRST PAYMENT SHOULD BE MADE UNDER BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY.
(E) PARAGRAPHS 5 AND 6. PARAGRAPH 5 PICKS UP THE POINTS MADE IN
PARAGRAPH 6 AND 8 OF THE PREVIOUS DRAFT STATEMENT. PARAGRAPH 6
PICKS UP THE POINT MADE UP IN PARAGRAPH 7 OF THE PREVIOUS STATEMENT.
(F) WE HAVE OMITTED FROM THE STATEMENT THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL THAT THE
SUMS OF MONEY WOULD BE SET ASIDE AND WOULD BECOME ACCESSIBLE TO THE OFFICER CONCERNED ONLY WHEN HE OR SHE RETIRED, RESIGNED OR OTHERWISE LEFT THE SERVICE OF THE SARG: THANK YOU FOR YOUR FURTHER ADVICE ON THIS. SUCH AN OPERATION WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE TO ADMINISTER AND HMOCS OFFICERS COULD WELL ARGUE ALSO THAT IT WAS
GROSSLY UNFAIR - THEY WERE BEING DENIED ACCESS TO MONEY THEY HAD
EARNED.
(G) PARAGRAPH 8. WE HAVE RETAINED THIS PARAGRAPH IN FULL. GIVEN THAT
ONE QUARTER OF THE POTENTIAL TARGET AUDIENCE ENCOMPASSES CONTRACT OFFICERS AND THAT IN REALITY IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO REFUSE TO SEE THEM, WE SEE MERIT IN VOLUNTEERING THIS UPFRONT.
(H) YOU WILL NOTE THAT WE HAVE ADVANCED THE SCHEDULE BY ONE WEEK.
WE DO NOT WISH TO GIVE THE OFFICERS CONCERNED TOO LONG TO CONSIDER THEIR POSITION AND WE INTEND TO OPEN CONSULTATIONS SLIGHTLY EARLIER THAN ENVISAGED: THOUGH PROBABLY LATE IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 4 MAY. WE CONSIDER THAT WE MAY WELL NEED MORE
TIME TO CLEAR THE OUTCOME OF THESE CONSULTATIONS IN LONDON
BEFORE ANNOUNCING A FINAL DECISION IN EARLY JUNE.
(I) WE HAVE OMITTED PARAGRAPH 10 OF THE PREVIOUS DRAFT WHICH
PROPOSED THAT OFFICERS WHO ORIGINALLY SERVED ON CONTRACT TERMS
COULD ONLY RECEIVE COMPENSATION ON THE BASIS OF SERVICE SINCE
THE DATE OF THE OFFICERS' ENROLMENT IN HMOCS.
4. OUR TIMING IS EXTREMELY TIGHT. WE SHALL NEED TO SUBMIT TO MINISTERS ON THIS ON THURSDAY 2 APRIL IF WE ARE TO OBTAIN CLEARANCE
TO LAUNCH THE CONSULTATION BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION.
GRATEFUL THEREFORE TO HAVE YOUR REPLIES DESKBY 02093OZ.
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