TNAG-2686-FCO40-3888-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1993 — Page 37

NOTE OF A CALL ON MR GOODLAD BY THE OVERSEAS SERVICE PENSIONER'S ASSOCIATION (OSPA) on 10 MAY 1993

Lord Grey (President, OSPA), Mr Pusinelli (Chairman, OSPA),

Mr Le Breton (Secretary, OSPA) and Mr Haye called on the

Minister on 10 May.

1.

2.

Mr Pusinelli said that OSPA were concerned about the

operation of the Supplementary Pension for Overseas Service

(SPOS) Regulations, rather than the compensation or pension safeguard arrangements which would be offered to HMOCS officers

in Hong Kong. He explained that the SPOS Regulations penalised

pensioners by adjusting payments when the Hong Kong dollar

appreciated against sterling, but not doing the same when the

reverse happened. HMG had admitted that the Regulations

operated unfairly and OSPA had been under the impression that they would be amended. However, it now seemed that this

proposal could not be taken forward until the package for HMOCS officers had been agreed. In view of the delay, he considered

that the three elements of the package should be split and each

considered on their merits. He also asked that OSPA be

consulted separately from the HMOCS Association on any

proposals which might affect their members.

3.

Mr Pusinelli said that a Hong Kong pensioner was considering seeking judicial review of the SPOS Regulations and had asked for OSPA's support. The ODA maintained that the operation of SPOS was legally correct and in accordance with the intention of the legislation. OSPA were very reluctant to

get involved in legal proceedings but a number of their members

were frustrated at the delay in finding a solution. Their

Annual General Meeting would be held on 27 May and there was a

note.vis.ospa.ADMIN

JEB