TNAG-2422-FCO40-3524-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 256

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MDHIAN

3. THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE HAVE ADOPTED A RESPONSIBLE APPROACH. THEY HAVE ENCOURAGED INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS TO FORWARD COMMENTS TO HMG. HOWEVER THE FRUSTRATION OF THE MORE MILITANT MEMBERS WAS EVIDENT AT THE MEETING. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION APPROACHED US INFORMALLY AFTERWARDS AND TOLD US THAT, UNLESS HMG WAS PREPARED TO RESPOND FLEXIBLY ON THE MAIN POINTS OF PRINCIPLE, HE FEARED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE MILITANTS.

4. SEPARATELY WE HAVE HEARD THAT CONSERVATIVES ABROAD ARE APPARENTLY INTENDING TO RAISE THE DELAY OVER FINALISING HMOCS ARRANGEMENTS, AND THE UNSATISFACTORY TERMS OF HMG'S OPENING STATEMENT ON CONSULTATIONS REGARDING THE COMPENSATION SCHEME, WITH CONSERVATIVE CENTRAL OFFICE.

ASSESSMENT

5. WE BELIEVE THAT GENERAL RIGHT TO RETIREMENT ON PENSION WITH COMPENSATION IN 1997 AND STERLING SAFEGUARDS WILL BE THE KEY ISSUES IN THE FORTHCOMING CONSULTATIONS WITH THE HMOCS

ASSOCIATION.

6. WE HAVE TODAY FAXED A COPY OF THE ASSOCIATION'S FORMAL RESPONSE. OTHER RESPONSES, NUMBERING MORE THAN 100 ALREADY, WILL BE DESPATCHED AT CLOSE OF PLAY ON 24 APRIL.

WILSON

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MAIN

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DISTRIBUTION

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.HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS .CIVIL SERVICE RESTRICTED

HKD

LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS

FED

NEWS D

RAD//MR WYE

OVERSEA PENSIONS/ODA//MR FISH

PS

PS/MR GOODLAD

PS/PUS

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

MR KERBY

RMD

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