§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what terms will be offered to expatriate civil servants currently based in Hong Kong on the resumption of sovereignty by China; and what is the estimated cost to the Exchequer of these arrangements.
§ Mr. GoodladTwo White Papers of 1954 and 1960 set out our obligation to Her Majesty's overseas civil service—HMOCS—employed in overseas territories upon the ending of British sovereignty. These obligations include provision of a compensation scheme and a sterling pension protection scheme. Draft schemes have been prepared for consultation with the Hong Kong HMOCS association. The cost of these schemes will be known when they have been finalised.