TNAG-2423-FCO40-3525-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 73

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TELNO 1323

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

OF 15095OZ MAY 92

CONFIDENTIAL

HKA 233/1

·BA IN REGISTRY

199

T

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

320

326

010776

MDHIAN 4123

TOP COPY bolweek.

YOUR TELNO 799: HMOCS: PENSION SCHEME DEADLINE.

•Noted

ROXPS /

Tele sent

2265

WE ARE RELUCTANT TO CONSIDER EXTENSION OF THE OPTION DEADLINE FOR PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE TERMS AND FOR ENROLMENT IN HMOCS. THE OFFICERS AFFECTED ARE ALREADY AWARE THAT HMOCS ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING DRAWN UP AND HAVE HAD SIGHT OF HMG'S OPENING STATEMENT. THEY ARE ALSO AWARE THAT THE ISSUES ARE COMPENSATION AND STERLING PENSION SAFEGUARDS. THEY KNOW FAR MORE THAN THEIR HMOCS COLLEAGUES DID WHEN APPOINTED OR TRANSFERRING TO PENSIONABLE TERMS.

2. ALTHOUGH ELIGIBLE AGREEMENT OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR PENSIONABLE TERMS AND HMOCS BY 30 JUNE 1992, THEY WILL HAVE UP TO 31 DECEMBER 1992 TO OPT FOR THE NEW PENSION SCHEME. ANY EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE FOR PENSIONABLE TERMS WOULD MEAN THAT THESE OFFICERS, WHO HAVE TO BE GIVEN SIX MONTHS THEREAFTER TO OPT FOR THE OLD OR NEW PENSION SCHEMES, WOULD HAVE A PERIOD BEYOND 31 DECEMBER 1992 IN WHICH TO OPT FOR THE NEW PENSION SCHEME. THIS WAS REGRETTABLY THE SITUATION BEFORE WE EXTENDED THE NEW PENSION SCHEME OPTION DEADLINE. IT WOULD BE UNDESIRABLE TO AGAIN PUT THIS GROUP OF OFFICERS IN A MORE FAVOURABLE POSITION THAN THEIR HMOCS AND LOCAL COLLEAGUES. THE NEW PENSION SCHEME DEADLINE SHOULD BE

THE SAME FOR ALL.

3.

ANY EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE FOR PENSIONABLE TERMS MAY ALSO AROUSE LOCAL OFFICERS SUSPICIONS THAT THE ALREADY ANNOUNCED NEW PENSION SCHEME DEADLINE EXTENSION WAS DONE FOR HMOCS REASONS.

WILSON

YYYY

#

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