CONFIDENTIAL
obligations to HMOCS officers is an interest of the Government
as a whole; and the costs for Britain of a break-down in the
Civil Service or Police there would be high.
10.
There are drawbacks to proceeding step by step. In the interests of reducing the costs to the taxpayer and of
encouraging HMOCS officers to stay on in Hong Kong, both our
compensation and our sterling safeguards proposals are
significantly less generous than has been the case with other Dependent Territories. The announcement of proposals only on
compensation, with a holding line on the principle of a sterling safeguard, is bound to produce disappointment among
HMOCS officers. But the Governor considers that the situation
will be manageable and the risks involved less serious than
allowing the present uncertainty to drag on. I believe we should accept his judgement.
11. Lord Caithness plans to visit Hong Kong in the week of
1 March. He will be pressed very hard to make an
announcement. I enclose the draft of a statement I should
like him to be able to make in Hong Kong. I should be
grateful to know if you are content.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
11 February 1992
CONFIDENTIAL
Дн
DOUGLAS HURD
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