§ Mr. AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to propose measures to safeguard the value of Her Majesty's overseas Civil Service pensions of those serving in or retired from Hong Kong following the transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China and during the transition period prior to then; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorIn the past sterling safeguards have normally been negotiated on behalf of members of Her Majesty's overseas Civil Service immediately before constitutional change. It would be a significant departure from previous practice to contemplate such arrangements at this stage, and we have no plans to do so.