TNAG-2426-FCO40-3528-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 119

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CONFIDENTIAL

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Reference

From: D S FISH

(Ext 3444)

Date: 7 July 1992

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1.

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Thank you for sending me a copy of Peter Ricketts' exchange of letters with the Cabinet Office on the question of security clearance for HMOCS officers and dependants after 1997.

2.

As things stand, Mr Wright's statement that we cannot assure HMOCS officers or their dependants "that they will not be disadvantaged for the purposes of security clearance if they stay on in Hong Kong after 1997", is a major weakness in our argument that it is reasonable for HMOCS officers to continue to serve the SAR Government. It is not uncommon for public servants to beget public servants and very common for members of the disciplined services to beget members of the disciplined services. Given the vehemence with which HMOCS officers, particularly the police, pressed us on this question when we were in Hong Kong in May, I do not believe that we can do other than be entirely frank with them about the outcome of our enquiries about security vetting.

3. I must say I find it hard to believe that we will not have the means to carry out the requisite checks on a limited number of people who are already well known to the security people and have perhaps already been positively vetted; but if the current view prevails we would have to admit that service beyond 1997 is a risk for any officer or family wishing to seek public service employment back home in the UK. This would add to the pressure on HMG to ensure the availability of an option for early retirement with immediate payment of pension. We cannot deliver this, of course, but we may be able to use the security clearance factor in our arguments to justify our U-turn on compensation.

qut

D S FISH

Overseas Pensions Department

7 July 1992

CONFIDENTIAL