SECRET
HKA 233/5
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1763
OF 301124Z JUNE 92
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG
Pa
CUPY DIST?
161227
MDHIAN 0001
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
PEKING: PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR
UKREP JLG HONG KONG: PERSONAL FOR MR GALSWORTHY
17
YRTELNO 1006: HMOCS ARRANGEMENTS: JUDICIAL OFFICERS: ELIGIBILITY FOR COMPENSATION
1. WE AGREE WITH YOUR PROPOSALS FOR DEALING WITH JUDICIAL OFFICERS. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO GIVE SUFFICIENT NOTICE OF THE SECOND DEADLINE OF 31 AUGUST 1992, IT WOULD BE ADVISABLE TO INFORM THE JUDICIARY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE WOULD SUGGEST A LETTER BY FAX TO REGISTRAR, SUPREME COURT, WITH A COPY TO CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH.
2. ON HMOCS SERVICE ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION (PARAGRAPH 3 OF TUR) OFFICERS MIGHT IN THEORY EXPECT THEIR HMOCS SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE AFTER 1997, ALBEIT NOT IN HONG KONG. NOTHING SPECIFIC HAS BEEN SAID UNTIL RECENTLY ABOUT HMOCS COMING TO AN END IN 1997. WE THEREFORE BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE EQUITABLE FOR ALL BOUGHT-BACK PENSIONABLE SERVICE TO COUNT AS HMOCS SERVICE FOR COMPENSATION CAS WELL AS SPOS AND STERLING SAFEGUARDS). BUT WE RECOGNISE THAT THIS IS A DECISION FOR YOU TO TAKE.
3. WHETHER A DECISION TO EXCLUDE BOUGHT-BACK SERVICE FOR HMOCS COMPENSATION PURPOSES WOULD CAUSE ANY RUCTIONS REMAINS TO BE SEEN. MANY OFFICERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY TRANSFERRED TO PENSIONABLE TERMS AND ENROLLED IN HMOCS HAVE NO WISH TO BUY BACK PAST SERVICE AND CANNOT AFFORD TO DO SO. A SMALL GROUP MAY HOWEVER FEEL AGGRIEVED. IN ORDER TO MINIMISE ANY ADVERSE REACTION, IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT SUCH A DECISION DID NOT AFFECT THE SPOS AND STERLING SAFEGUARD ISSUES.
4. THE IDEA OF REVERSION TO CONTRACT TERMS (PARA 4 OF TUR) IS SEEN HERE AS A NON STARTER. IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO ACCEPT SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT AS BEING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST WHEN WE HAVE TRIED TO DEVELOP A CAREER CIVIL SERVICE IN HONG KONG.
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