SECRET
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 07003OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 431
OF 06170OZ MARCH 92
SECRET
150022
MDHOAN 275
p275
Mu Store 10/3
Apa (Aunex)
m
10/
STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR PS/LORD CAITHNESS
FROM BURNS, AUSS
OUR TELNO 421, TELECON RICKETTS/BURNS AND HONG KONG TELNOS 700 AND 701: HMOCS
SUMMARY
1. TREASURY CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR SPEAKING NOTE WITH CHINESE:
THIS WILL TAKE TIME. CASE FOR LOOKING AGAIN AT POSSIBILITY OF
NAILING DOWN THE PRESENT POSITION BEFORE LORD CAITHNESS LEAVES
HONG KONG?
DETAIL
2. MRS BROWN (TREASURY) ASKED US TODAY WHETHER LORD CAITHNESS HAD MADE A STATEMENT IN HONG KONG ABOUT HMOCS. WE JUDGED IT BEST TO SAY THAT WE DID NOT YET KNOW WHAT HE HAD DECIDED, THAT WE DID NOT EXPECT HE WOULD WANT TO USE MR MELLOR'S FORMULATION ON STERLING SAFEGUARDS, SO THAT ANY STATEMENT WOULD, AS SUGGESTED IN THE FINAL SENTENCE OF PARA 6 OF MR MELLOR'S MINUTE, SAY NOTHING ABOUT COMPENSATION: IE IT WOULD BE A SHORT, LOW-KEY AFFAIR RECORDING THAT WE HAD FORMULATED A PROPOSAL FOR A SCHEME PROVIDING ELEMENTS OF INCENTIVE AND COMPENSATION AND THAT WE
LOOKED FORWARD TO OPENING CONSULTATIONS ABOUT THIS WITH HMOCS OFFICERS' REPRESENTATIVES BEFORE EASTER.
3.
WE ALSO SAID, IN THE LIGHT OF TELECON UNDER REFERENCE WHICH FORESHADOWED HONG KONG TURS, THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BRIEF THE CHINESE QUICKLY AND BEFORE OPENING THE CONSULTATIONS WITH HMOCS OFFICERS. MRS BROWN SAID THAT THE TREASURY WOULD WISH TO SEE THE BRIEF IN DRAFT AND IN PARTICULAR WOULD WISH TO DISCUSS WITH US WHAT SHOULD BE SAID IF THE CHINESE AGAIN RAISED THE QUESTION OF A SET-ASIDE FUND FOR HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS
GENERALLY.
4.
IT WILL BE DIFFICULT ENOUGH ANYWAY TO FIND A PERSUASIVE WAY
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