SECRET
034547
MDLOAN 562
(A) IF THEY WILL BE 45 OR MORE IN 1996/97, THEY SHOULD STAY ON
THE OLD PENSIONS SCHEME AND IF THEY DECIDE TO APPLY FOR RETIREMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITH IMMEDIATE PENSION.
(B) IF THEY WILL BE UNDER 45, THEY SHOULD OPT FOR THE NEW
PENSIONS SCHEME, AND IF THEY DECIDE TO APPLY FOR RETIREMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITH NON-DEFERRED IE IMMEDIATE PENSION.
IN BOTH CASES A MINIMUM NOTICE PERIOD OF SAY 12 MONTHS MIGHT BE ONE CONDITION, IE WE WOULD KNOW BY JUNE 1996 HOW MANY OFFICERS WISHED TO GO: THIS WOULD ENABLE US TO REDUCE BUNCHING. ANY OFFICERS WHO COULD NOT BE HANDLED IN THIS WAY, EG BECAUSE OF LACK OF TEN YEARS' ELIGIBLE SERVICE, COULD PERHAPS BE BROUGHT WITHIN THE LIMITED COMPENSATION SCHEME (THE CHINESE WERE BRIEFED ON THE LCS AT JLGV BUT HAVE NOT SHOWN SUBSEQUENT INTEREST IN THE NUMBERS LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED). IF HANDLED IN THIS WAY, WE WOULD SEE NO NEED TO BRIEF THE CHINESE ABOUT ROUTINE REQUIREMENTS. (WE NOW THINK WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TO BRIEF THEM IF OUR SCHEME SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED RIGHT TO RETIRE EARLY AND IF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL APPROVED THE SCHEME UNDER THE PENSIONS ORDINANCES.) THERE WOULD BE NO INCONSISTENCY WITH WHAT MR GALSWORTHY TOLD GUO FENGMIN ON 13 MARCH (OUR TELNO 18 AND UKREP TELNO 91): WE WOULD STILL WISH TO AVOID ENCOURAGING EARLY RETIREMENTS. (THERE IS AN ANALOGY WITH THE NATIONALITY SCHEME: PROVISION OF A SAFETY NET MAY HELP KEEP HMOCS OFFICERS ON THE WIRE AT LEAST UP TO 1997. (THEIR WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE THEREAFTER MAY BE INFLUENCED BY WHATEVER UNDERSTANDING WE COME TO WITH THE CHINESE AND LEGCO NEARER TO 1997 ABOUT FUTURE LOCALISATION ARRANGEMENTS, EG WHETHER PENSIONABLE EXPATRIATE OFFICERS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPTION TO TRANSFER TO CONTRACT TERMS.))
HURD
YYYY
PAGE 2 SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.