CONFIDENTIAL
RECORD OF MEETING WITH HONG KONG HMOCS ASSOCIATION, 7 APRIL
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Present:
Mr Nigel Cox, Hong Kong Department, FCO
Mr Michael Cartland, Chairman, HMOCS Association Mr Chris Birch, Vice-Chairman, HMOCS Association Mr Charles Garrett, Notetaker
1.
Mr Cox thanked Mr Cartland and Mr Birch for coming to the meeting at such short notice. As the HMOCS Association would know from their discussion and correspondence with
Lord Caithness, there had been some progress on matters of concern to HK HMOCS. The government were keen to respond to the Association's wish to proceed as quickly as possible to open consultations on the scheme involving the elements of compensation and incentive which Lord Caithness had mentioned in his recent letter. The government were now in a position to make a statement outlining their approach and thus officially to open the consultation process. It had originally been envisaged that a joint FCO/ODA team should come to Hong Kong to make this statement, but because of other commitments this would have taken some time to arrange. Mr Cox said that, as he was already in Hong Kong for discussions with Civil Service Branch and on other business, it had been decided that he should stay on to deliver the statement straight away. Mr Garrett was present, as a member of the Diplomatic Service rather than as a member of the JLG office, to take a note.
2.
Mr Cox said that he should make one constitutional point. This statement represented the position of the present government: as with all policy matters, it would of course be open to another government to review this particular policy.
3. Mr Cox suggested tht he should let Mr Cartland and Mr Birch read through the statement. He would then add a word about distribution of the statement and about the next stage of consultation. If Mr Cartland or Mr Birch had any factual points on the statement he could try to clarify them. If they wished to make any immediate reactions to it, he would be happy to take note of them and report them.
4.
Mr Cox then handed over the statement (attached) on behalf of HMG, and gave Mr Cartland and Mr Birch time to read it. He said that the HMOCS Association would no doubt wish to circulate the statement to its members. He confirmed that HMG looked on the Association as its partner in these consultations. But they would also ask HKG to send copies on HMG's behalf to all HMOCS officers and through the management of the Administrative Service and Police to draw it to the attention of those contract officers who had the option to transfer to permanent and pensionable employment with HKG and
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CONFIDENTIAL
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