TNAG-2430-FCO40-3532-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 14

CONFIDENTIAL

+IKA 233/1

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2928

OF 19044OZ DECEMBER 92

TOP COPY Q DIST?

655

177653

MDLIAN 2758

HMOCS : HMOCS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1.

THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WAS HELD ON 19 DECEMBER. TURN-OUT AT ABOUT 150 WAS GOOD FOR EARLY ON A SATURDAY MORNING. CARTLAND AND THE PRESENT COMMITTEE SECURED RE-ELECTION. THE MEMBERSHIP QUIETLY NOTED THE LINE THAT 'HMG INTENDS THAT FURTHER CONSULTATIONS BE HELD IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON A PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS WHICH WILL INCLUDE PROVISION FOR A STERLING PENSION SAFEGUARD' AND OUR ASSURANCES ABOUT ACCOMMODATING A RIGHT TO RETIREMENT.

2.

HOWEVER A DEEP SENSE OF FRUSTRATION WAS APPARENT OVER THE CONTINUED DELAY IN HOLDING FURTHER CONSULTATIONS. MEMBERS FELT STRONGLY THAT EARLY CONSULTATIONS WERE AN IMPORTANT MATTER OF CREDIBILITY FOR BOTH HMG AND THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE.

3.

OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT THE LINE TAKEN BY CARTLAND AT THE MEETING WILL CONTAIN THE SITUATION AND PREVENT ANY ERUPTION OF DAMAGING PUBLIC CRITICISM FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS. HOWEVER THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE IS VERY CLEAR. DECISIONS ON WHICH FURTHER CONSULTATIONS CAN THEN PROCEED ARE REQUIRED URGENTLY. WE WOULD HOPE THAT A FURTHER CONSULTATION VISIT CAN BE HELD IN JANUARY.

PATTEN

YYYY

MAIN

42

.HER MAJESTY'S OVERSEAS

.CIVIL SERVICE RESTRICTED

HKD

LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS

FED

DISTRIBUTION

42

OVERSEA PENSIONS/ODA//MR FISH

PS

PS/MR GOODLAD

PS/PUS

SIR J COLES

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CONFIDENTIAL