SECRET
RECE
HKA 233
CD IN
22 JAN 1993
T
PA
Auion Taks
20
074643 MDHIAN 6536
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
YRTELNO 40: HMOCS ARRANGEMENTS
"
1 THANK YOU FOR THE SITUATION REPORT AND THE FAXED COPY OF THE CHIEF SECRETARYS' REPLY OF 15 JANUARY. UNFORTUNATELY THIS TAKES US NO FURTHER FORWARD. A POLITICAL DECISION IS REQUIRED.
2. THE TREASURY ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE UK RELATIVES AS JUSTIFICATION FOR A STERLING PENSION SAFEGUARD AT HKD26:GBP1 IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND HAS NO BASIS IN PAST PRECEDENT OR PRACTICE. TO ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY THIS PARTIALLY IN TERMS OF PRESENT SPOS ARRANGEMENTS IS MOST MISLEADING. SPOS DOES NOT PROVIDE EXCHANGE RATE PROTECTION TO ANY HONG KONG HMOCS OFFICER WHO RETIRED POST 1977. ODA (FISH) HAS DETAILS.
3. I CANNOT WAIT FOREVER. HMOCS ISSUES HAVE DOGGED US SINCE 1986. AN EQUITABLE SOLUTION IS REQUIRED NOW IN THE INTERESTS OF AN HONOURABLE EXIT FROM EMPIRE AND THE STABLE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG IN THE RUN-UP TO 1997. I AM NOW WRITING TO THE PRIME MINISTER WITH A COPY TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE CHIEF SECRETARY. WE WILL FAX YOU AN ADVANCE COPY.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
42
.HER MAJESTY'S
OVERSEAS
.CIVIL SERVICE
RESTRICTED
HKD
LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
DISTRIBUTION
42
OVERSEA PENSIONS/ODA//MR FISH
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/PUS
PAGE
1
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