TNAG-2428-FCO40-3530-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 205

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Mr Morris, HKD

PS/Mr Goodlad

HKA 233/1

File

555

From: B Paris

Hong Kong Dept

Date: 8 October 1992

cc:

Mr Ricketts, HKD Mr Fish, ODA

A

LETTER FROM CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MEMBERS OF HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS CIVIL SERVICE (HMOCS) IN HONG KONG

Problem

1.

538

Mr Cartland, the Chairman of the HMOCS Association has written to Mr Goodlad about the lack of progress in resolving matters affecting HMOCS members in Hong Kong.

Recommendation

2.

That Mr Goodlad should reply and I submit a draft. The ODA and HM Treasury are content.

Background

A first round of consultations was held with the HMOCS Association in May this year on the question of compensation we were unable to say anything on a sterling safeguard for HMOCS pensions. Mr Goodlad met members of the Association both in May and at the beginning of September when he said that we hope to hold further negotiations later on in September or, more likely during the autumn.

4.

We need to wait until we hear from the Hong Kong Bank about private sector options for safeguarding pensions before we and the Treasury can jointly finalise the package of options which Ministers commissioned in early July. We should then be able quickly to recommend that the Secretary of State again write to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. But until there is Whitehall agreement on the way forward, there is little encouragement we can give to Mr Cartland, either on substance or on timing.

B Paris

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