403
SECRET
126037
MDHIAN 8367
HKA 233/1
SECRET
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELNO 869
OF 180806Z JUNE 92
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
Q DIST?
TOP COPY
Pa
365
367
YOUR TELNOS 462 AND 924 TO HONG KONG: EARLY RETIREMENT
I HAVE LOOKED AGAIN AT THE PAPERS DEALING WITH THESE DIFFICULT PROBLEMS.
1.
RIGHT TO EARLY RETIREMENT
2. THE BASIC FACT IS THAT PENSIONS AFTER 1997 WILL BE PAID BY THE SARG. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE IMPRUDENT, TO SAY THE LEAST, TO GIVE ANY ASSURANCE TO HMOCS OFFICERS ABOUT EARLY RETIREMENT ON THE TRANSFER OF SOVERIEGNTY WITHOUT CONSULTING THE CHINESE. FOR ALL THE REASONS GIVEN IN PREVIOUS TELEGRAMS FROM THIS POST, AND FROM HONG KONG AND UKREP JLG IT IS HIGHLY PROBABLE THAT THE CHINESE WOULD REACT NEGATIVELY TO ANY PROPOSAL FOR EARLY RETIREMENT WHICH INVOLVED IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF PENSIONS BY THE HKG/SARG. BUT WE
WILL ONLY FIND OUT FOR CERTAIN BY CONSULTING THE CHINESE AND
PUTTING SPECIFIC IDEAS TO THEM. THIS WOULD BEST BE DONE IN THE CONTEXT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF EXPATRIATE OFFICERS MORE GENERALLY. THE TIMING OF SUCH DISCUSSIONS WILL BE IMPORTANT. IT WOULD BE COURTING A REBUFF TO EMBARK ON THEM WHEN WE ARE IN SERIOUS
DISPUTE OVER THE AIRPORT AND CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.
3. I NOTE THAT HONG KONG REMAIN OPPOSED TO GIVING HMOCS OFFICERS THE RIGHT TO RETIRE EARLY, ON THE GROUND THAT IT WOULD BE DIVISIVE AND HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE MORALE OF LOCAL OFFICERS. THAT
IS OF COURSE AMONG THE REASONS WHY THE CHINESE ARE UNLIKELY TO GIVE THEIR AGREEMENT. IF MINISTERS NEVERTHELESS DECIDE THAT WE SHOULD CONSULT THE CHINESE, THE FOLLOWING ARGUMENTS COULD BE DEPLOYED IN ADDITION TO THOSE DISCUSSED IN EARLIER TELEGRAMS:-
HMOCS OFFICERS ARE CROWN SERVANTS, WHO OWE THEIR LOYALTY TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. THE GREAT MAJORITY ARE WHOLE HEARTEDLY COMMITTED TO HONG KONG. BUT THERE MAY BE A MINORITY WHO WILL FEEL UNABLE TO SERVE ANOTHER GOVERNMENT OR (IN THE CASE OF THOSE COVERED BY ARTICLE 104 OF THE BASIC LAW) TO SWEAR ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAR.
THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RETIRE AND DRAW THE PENSIONS WHICH THEY
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