SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 666
OF 291536Z APRIL 93
SECRET
HKA 2331
ESI
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
1. MAY 1993
21
020044
MDHIAN 9149
TOP COPY Q DIST?
HMOCS ARRANGEMENTS: HK HMOCS ASSOCIATION
1. FOLLOWING THE GOVERNOR'S RECENT VISIT TO LONDON, WE WROTE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION ADVISING THAT 'HMG ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF AGREEING A PACKAGE OF HMOCS ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDING A COMPENSATION SCHEME AND PROVISION OF A STERLING PENSION SAFEGUARD. DETAILS OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS AND AN FCO/ODA VISIT FOR FURTHER CONSULTATIONS ARE EXPECTED SHORTLY.'
2. WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED A STRONGLY WORDED LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION STATING THAT THIS IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND CLAIMING THAT AS A RESULT OF THE LACK OF PROGRESS THE COMMITTEE'S CREDIBILITY IS WEARING EXTREMELY THIN. THE LETTER GOES ON TO EXPLAIN IN SOME DETAIL THE VIEWS OF HONG KONG HMOCS OFFICERS AND ENDS WITH A PLEA TO ASSIST IN AVERTING A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE BY, AT THE VERY LEAST GIVING THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE A MUCH CLEARER INDICATION OF THE SITUATION. A COPY OF THIS LETTER IS BEING FAXED TO MORRIS (HKD) SEPARATELY.
3. WATERS (CSB) WAS RECENTLY INVITED TO ATTEND A MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE. MEMBERS WERE VERY DISTURBED AND ANNOYED AT THE LACK OF PROGRESS AND THE CHAIRMAN HAD SOME DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE MEETING. SEVERAL MEMBERS CALLED FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN PUBLICLY AND THROUGH THE MEDIA. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE CHAIRMAN SHOULD PUT FORWARD THE ASSOCIATION'S VIEWS IN THE
STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS.
4. IT IS OUR ASSESSMENT THAT MR CARTLAND, THE CHAIRMAN, WILL BE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE COMMITTEE AND THE ASSOCIATION UNLESS A MUCH CLEARER INDICATION OF THE SITUATION AND AN UNEQUIVOCAL COMMITMENT IS PROVIDED BY HMG WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. CARTLAND WILL CERTAINLY STAND DOWN IF HE IS UNABLE TO REPORT SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS AT AN EGM SOME TIME IN MAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN THE ELECTION OF AN ACTIVIST AND AGGRESSIVE COMMITTEE WHO WILL NOT HESITATE TO PURSUE THIS ISSUE PUBLICLY REGARDLESS OF ANY BAD PUBLICITY FOR THE HKG AND HMG AND THE POSSIBLE CHINA AND LOCAL
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