TNAG-2425-FCO40-3527-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 257

CONFIDENTIAL

378

Reference

Чес

A

Ricketts

From: D S FISH

(Ext 3444)

Miss Ni

Pq

Helpful M

Date: 8 June 1992

HKA 233/1

9ln.

cc Mr Kerby

Mr

Jox

Hong Kong Department/FCO

1.

on

Further to our meeting with Ministers and Mr Patten on 5 June, I thought it would be useful to clarify my views compensation. At the meeting I expressed some doubts about the wisdom of moving from the 'supersession' to the traditional 'loss of career' factors for the compensation scheme. This was largely because of the massive sums of money which some officers would receive. We do, however, have the capping mechanism available to us and I very much agree that it would be best to seek Cabinet/Ministerial agreement that we should be able to offer the traditional factors. We are unlikely to get two bites at the cherry and clearly we need to gain maximum advantage from Mr Patten's presence in the UK. Thereafter, we can consider the tactics to be deployed in future consultations with the HMOCS Association.

2. I am following with interest your valiant attempt to make progress with Peking and the JLG on early retirement. At the meeting on 5 June, Mr Patten expressed an interest in the pursuit of a more pro-active localisation policy. Such a policy might be attractive to both the Chinese and local civil servants and might be the best smoke-screen for early retirement for HMOCS.

D S FISH

qub

Overseas Pensions Department

8 June 1992

CONFIDENTIAL