TNAG-2431-FCO40-3533-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1992 — Page 46

27 October 1992

HKA 233/1

لشال

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

London SW1A 2AH

нку File

53

Taxed lick

to 15/GH

WATERS (HO

에서

25/10

From The Secretary of State

Dear Chris,

560

Thank you for your letter of 13 October.

As

I too am frustrated that we have not made faster

progress. A paper by FCO/ODA/Treasury officials setting out a range of costed options is now almost ready. soon as this is agreed with the Treasury, I will write to Michael Portillo setting out my conclusions. Your letter confirms my view that political decisions are now needed to resolve this issue once and for all, in the interests of good administration in Hong Kong, as well as in fairness to the HMOCS officers concerned. I shall be seeking colleagues' agreement to a package of proposals which meet our obligations to provide compensation and a sterling safeguard, on a basis that we can justify in terms of past practice as well as present circumstances.

I will ensure that you are kept in touch with progress. We can if necessary discuss further when you

are here next month.

AM

I am copying this to Michael Portillo.

DOUGLAS HURD

と、

The Rt Hon Christopher Patten

Dyn.

C