5. It is interesting that Sandra Brown's letter makes no mention at all of HMOCS officers. She also glosses over the fundamental point to emerge from the Margolis Report - viz, that a significant Hong Kong Government input would be required to make even a very limited scheme attractive to local civil servants. With help from the Hong Kong Government, we should be able to respond to Sandra's letter in a way which makes clear that careful consideration of this issue has left us in no doubt that it will not be possible to construct a private sector based scheme which will fulfil the obligation of the British Government to ensure that the pensions of HMOCS officers are safeguarded. If the Treasury can envisage a way in which British Government support might produce a viable private sector based protection arrangement for HMOCS officers, we would be interested to hear of it. Otherwise, we should agree that we have tried and failed.
6. I understand that Nigel Cox was due to discuss this subject in detail with the Hong Kong Government on 6 April and I look forward to hearing the outcome. Perhaps we can discuss when I am in London early next week.
D S FISH
Overseas Pensions Department 9 April 1992
CONFIDENTIAL
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