CONFIDENTIAL
289
146577
MDHOAN 3719
TOP COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 010030Z HONG KONG
TELNO 725
OF 30173OZ APRIL 92
HKA 233/1
HMOCS CONSULTATIONS
fa
Q DIST?
9,15
1. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF LETTER DATED 30 APRIL FROM NJ COX, HKD, TO MR MD CARTLAND, CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MEMBERS OF HMOCS IN HONG KONG, WHICH WE ARE FAXING C/O PS, GH. PLEASE ARRANGE ONWARD TRANSMISSION ON 1 MAY.
BEGINS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER OF 22 APRIL ENCLOSING THE COMMENTS OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE HONG KONG HMOCS ASSOCIATION IN RESPONSE TO THE OPENING STATEMENT WHICH I GAVE YOU AND MR BIRCH ON 7 APRIL 1992. AS YOU EXPECTED WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED A LARGE NUMBER OF LETTERS FROM INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF HMOCS. WE ARE CAREFULLY CONSIDERING ALL THE POINTS RAISED IN PREPARATION FOR OUR FORTHCOMING DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU AND OTHER ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DETAILS OF THE PROPOSALS OUTLINED IN THE STATEMENT. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AGREEMENT THAT THESE DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BEGIN ON THURSDAY 7 MAY.
IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY MISUNDERSTANDING, WE THINK IT RIGHT TO MAKE TWO POINTS CLEAR AT THIS STAGE ABOUT OUR MEETINGS NEXT WEEK. THE FIRST POINT IS THAT MINISTERS HAVE ALREADY CONSIDERED WHETHER HMG SHOULD SEEK TO ARRANGE FOR HONG KONG MEMBERS OF HMOCS TO BE ENTITLED TO RETIRE WITH IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF PENSION AFTER THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY. FINAL DECISIONS WILL NOT BE TAKEN UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF OUR CONSULTATIONS, BUT MINISTERS' PRESENT VIEW IS THAT, GIVEN HONG KONG'S SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF HONG KONG PENSIONS LEGISLATION, THIS WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE. WE SHALL BE HAPPY TO EXPLAIN THE REASONING IN MORE DETAIL WHEN WE MEET AND TO LISTEN TO ANY ADDITIONAL POINTS YOU WISH TO MAKE ON THE SUBJECT. HOWEVER YOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT US TO BRING ANY NEW PROPOSAL IN THIS REGARD.
THE SECOND POINT RELATES TO YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE STERLING VALUE OF PENSIONS AFTER THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY. THE POSITION HERE REMAINS THAT THE QUESTION IS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION AND
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.