CONFIDENTIAL
065574
MDHIAN 6641
WHICH NEEDS TO WEIGHED.
5. THE COURSES OF ACTION ENVISAGED IN YOUR PARA 4 ARE PRETTY APOCALYPTIC. THIS IS A MATTER FOR HKG, BUT WE FIND IT HARD TO
WHILE BELIEVE THAT EXCO OR LEGCO WOULD EVER ACQUIESCE IN THEM. ENFORCEMENT BY ORDER-IN-COUNCIL FROM LONDON MIGHT BE A THEORETICAL CONSTITUTIONAL OPTION, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE FALLOUT FROM FORCIBLY APPROPRIATING PART OF HKG RESERVES IN BOTH LOCAL AND CHINESE TERMS WOULD BE WORTH IT.
6.
I NOTE WHAT YOU SAY (PARA 5) ABOUT A RIGHT TO RETIRE EARLY NOT BUT BEING THE SAME AS AN INDUCEMENT OR INCENTIVE TO RETIRE EARLY. AS HONG KONG IMPLY, A CHOICE BETWEEN EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO RETIRE BEFORE 1997 WITH IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF PENSION AND WAITING THEREAFTER UNTIL PENSIONABLE AGE WOULD CERTAINLY ACT AS AN INCENTIVE FOR EARLY RETIREMENT IN MANY CASES, WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS THE INTENTION.
7.
AS REGARDS THE LINE PROPOSED IN PARA 6 OF TUR, I COULD CERTAINLY SPEAK TO GUO AS YOU SUGGEST. HE WOULD NO DOUBT POCKET THE ASSURANCE THAT THERE ARE NO PLANS TO INTRODUCE A GENERAL RIGHT TO EARLY RETIREMENT WITH PENSION AND THE COMMITMENT TO CONSULT THE CHINESE BEFORE INTRODUCING ANY CHANGES. HE MIGHT WELL REQUEST A FURTHER BRIEFING ABOUT EXISTING PENSIONS LEGISLATION AND PRACTISE. I WOULD THINK HE WOULD ALSO SEIZE ON POINT (C) AS A HANDLE FOR OPENING UP THE WIDER DISCUSSIONS ON THE FUTURE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE WHICH THE CHINESE WANT. WE WOULD NEED TO BE SURE WE ARE READY FOR THESE BEFORE EXPOSING THIS SURFACE.
8. AS REGARDS HMOCS HANDLING, YOUR HOPE (PARA 8 OF TUR) THAT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO GIVE ALL OR MOST OF THE OFFICERS CONCERNED WHAT THEY WANT ON A DISCREET INDIVIDUAL BASIS BRINGS US BACK TO THE POINT AT ISSUE: MY VIEW REMAINS THAT, HOWEVER DISCREETLY YOU TRIED TO HANDLE THIS, THE CHINESE WOULD PROBABLY HEAR ABOUT IT WITH THE RISKS TO WHICH I DREW YOUR ATTENTION IN MY TELNO 235. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE LAST SENTENCE OF YOUR POINT 7(D) WOULD CAUSE POTENTIAL TROUBLE WITH BOTH LOCAL CIVIL SERVANTS AND THE CHINESE WITHOUT DOING MUCH TO SATISFY HMOCS MEMBERS. ALL PARTIES WOULD, FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, WANT A CLEARER EXPLANATION OF WHAT IT MEANT.
GALSWORTHY
YYYY
PAGE 2 CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.