§ Lord Geddesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements have been made in respect of new expenditure sought through the Hong Kong (Overseas Public Servants) Act 1996.
§ Lord CheshamThe Hong Kong (Overseas Public Servants) Act 1996, which received Royal Assent in February, provides for a compensation and pension package involving compensation and resettlement payments to Hong Kong HMOCS Officers.
Parliamentary approval of this new expenditure is being sought in the 1996–97 Main Estimate for ODA's Overseas Superannuation Vote (Class II, Vote 6). Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £3 million is being met by a repayable advance from the Contingency Fund.