TNAG-2428-FCO40-3530-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 38

CODE 18-77

Reference..

591

Mr Ricketts

HKA 233/1

5

3/11

M. Margir fil

M. While

mylll

Hanka

you.

Miss Paynes f.i.

HMOCS

1.

р.а.

Q31

3/

I explained to Grey Dorey the difference between the over retirement age judges and the group of expatriate pensionable officers (57 serving, 270 retired). The latter group, who are mainly Indian and Pakistani officers, cannot be admitted to HMOCS as they are not domiciled in the UK and do not have strong links with the UK. We do not envisage them asking for membership of HMOCS, but what they may press for is a sterling safeguard for their pension. Their argument will be that HMG's previous practice was to require a former colony to enter into a Public Officers Agreement on independence whereby certain officers, in addition to members of HMOCS, were entitled to receive their pensions outside the former colony and, in such cases, the newly independent country guaranteed the sterling value of their pension. I do not think our decision on over retirement age judges, should the Minister decide to admit them, will add any weight to their case.

2. Mr Dorey expected the Minister to approve the recommendation on the condition that this would not constitute a precedent which could be used by others to argue their case for membership of HMOCS.

awwraty.

NC G Whitney

Hong Kong Department

WH 304 270 2651

3 November 1992

rik.min.ADM

SLM