THE British Government's package of benefits for expatriate civil servants in Hong Kong in the light of 1997 cleared the House of Commons early yesterday.
There was also a ringing endorsement for the contribution overseas civil servants have made to the territory's success.
The Foreign Office Minister with special responsibility for Hong Kong, Jeremy Hanley, said the Bill 'can reward those who have helped to make Hong Kong such a special place'.
Both the Government and the Labour opposition are united over the measures in the Hong Kong (Overseas Public Servants) Bill, which was given a third reading without a vote and now goes to the House of Lords.
Opening debate on the measure, Mr Hanley said it would allow compensation to be paid for 'loss of career prospects'.
It would provide Hong Kong overseas pensioners a 'measure of protection for the sterling value of the pensions' and would also allow officers to retire prematurely before June 30, 1997, and be entitled to resettlement help.
