P.F.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 682
OF 221125Z APRIL 92
HKA 233/1
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
259
121170
MDHOAN 3251
TOP COPY Q DIST?
Pa
HMOCS: PENSIONS
SUMMARY
1.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON YOUR PRESENT THINKING AND SUGGESTION FOR GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE QUESTION DURING YOUR
VISIT NEXT WEEK.
DETAIL
DURING YOUR VISIT HERE NEXT WEEK WE SHOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS NEXT STEPS ON THIS FRONT. WE HAVE SUBMITTED TO MINISTERS RECOMMENDING THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE MINUTE THE NEW CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY TO ARGUE AGAIN THE CASE FOR A STERLING
SAFEGUARD PROVIDED BY HMG AND TO POINT OUT THE DESIRABILITY OF RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM BEFORE YOUR SUCCESSOR TAKES OFFICE. HOWEVER WE ARE NOT SURE THAT MINISTERS WILL WANT TO RETURN TO THE FRAY SO SOON AFTER THE ELECTION. THEY MAY FIND IT USEFUL FIRST TO HEAR YOUR LATEST ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY CONSEQUENCES
OF LEAVING THE MATTER IN THE AIR.
3.
COX (HKD) HAD USEFUL TALKS WITH CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH ON THIS SUBJECT, AS WELL AS ON THE COMPENSATION SCHEME, IN HONG KONG ON 6 APRIL. WE SHOULD NOW WELCOME AN UPDATE ON YOUR THINKING ON MEASURES TO REASSURE CIVIL SERVANTS GENERALLY ABOUT THE SECURITY OF THEIR PENSIONS. EVEN IF SUCH MEASURES COULD NOT OFFER HMOCS OFFICERS AN ADEQUATE SUBSTITUTE FOR THE STERLING SAFEGUARDS THEY
HAVE ENJOYED ELSEWHERE, OR POLITICAL COVER FOR CAPITALISATION OF HMOCS PENSIONS, EVIDENCE THAT HKG ARE DOING THEIR UTMOST FOR CIVIL SERVICE CONFIDENCE GENERALLY WOULD BE USEFUL IN RETURNING
TO THE CHARGE WITH THE TREASURY HERE ON THE NEED FOR HMG TO MAKE
THEIR OWN EFFORT FOR HMOCS OFFICERS (THE ARGUMENT OF OBLIGATION
IS PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH TO SECURE EARLY POSITIVE DECISIONS).
THE TREASURY WERE NOT MUCH IMPRESSED BY THE MARGOLIS REPORT BUT THOUGHT THAT IT FLAGGED UP AT THE END TWO POTENTIALLY PROMISING AVENUES WHICH WOULD BE WORTH EXPLORATION. THEY SUGGEST THAT, RATHER THAN THE DETAILED INVESTIGATIONS BY AN
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CONFIDENTIAL
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