1
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
HKA 233/1
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1439
OF 28080OZ MAY 92
SECRET
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST?
347
045242 MDHIAN 5682
M
FROM GOVERNOR.
PERSONAL FOR BURNS, AUSS.
PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR.
UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY
349
YOUR TELNO 425: HONG KONG HMOCS: EARLY RETIREMENT.
1
WE AGREE THAT TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF EARLY RETIREMENT ON PENSION FOR HMOCS OFFICERS WITH THE CHINESE NOW MIGHT AROUSE SUSPICIONS. IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE TO DISCUSS THE POSITION OF EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE CONTEXT OF DISCUSSIONS ON LOCAL OFFICERS AND PRINCIPAL OFFICIAL POSTS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE CHINESE MAY WISH TO PHASE OUT GENERALIST HMOCS OFFICERS IN OR SHORTLY AFTER 1997 (PEKING TELNO 695). BUT WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN ANY HARD EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS. WE ARE UNLIKELY TO GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF THEIR POSITION UNTIL DETAILED DISCUSSIONS ON THE 1997 CIVIL SERVICE SUCCESSION HAVE BEGUN.
2.
IF MINISTERS WERE TO DECIDE TO HONOUR THE COMMITMENTS PREVIOUSLY MADE TO OTHER MEMBERS OF HMOCS ON EARLY RETIREMENT, WE AGREE THAT THIS COULD, IN THEORY, BE IMPLEMENTED ON THE GENERAL LINES YOU PROPOSE (PARAGRAPH 3 OF TUR). IN SUCH A SCENARIO, THE OFFICERS IN THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES WOULD BE GIVEN THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:
(A) IF THEY WILL BE 45 OR OVER IN 1996/97, WITH MORE THAN TEN YEARS SERVICE, THEY MAY REMAIN ON THE OLD PENSION SCHEME AND IF THEY DECIDE TO APPLY FOR EARLY RETIREMENT ON PERSONAL GROUNDS CONNECTED WITH THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY, THIS WILL BE APPROVED.
(B) IF THEY WILL BE UNDER 55 AND HAVE ALREADY OPTED FOR THE NEW PENSION SCHEME, AND HAVE MORE THAN TEN YEARS SERVICE, THEY MAY RESIGN IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY AND APPLY FOR APPROVAL FOR IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF PENSION BENEFITS.
3.
THIS PROCEDURE IS NOT AN UNAGREED VARIATION ON THE SYSTEMS THE CHINESE HAVE AGREED TO PRESERVE (UKREP TELNO 235). IT HAS
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