It is said that some local civil servants are not at all happy that members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service (HMOCS) enjoy the right to compensation in the light of the 1997 sovereignty change.
The argument goes that when they joined the civil service, locals and expatriates swore allegiance to the crown, so why should it be the case that only HMOCS members are entitled to the cash compensation offered by the British Government? Disgruntled police inspectors have found it unpalatable and in the past few years a handful have repeatedly argued against this unequal treatment. However, no serious action has been taken.
But the policemen have not given up - it looks as if the inspectorate rank is heading for a split with a renewed effort by a group of officers vowing to pressurise the Local Inspectors' Association to take up the subject with the administration.
Reportedly, more than 200 inspectors have already signed up to form a new committee to press the association for an emergency meeting at the end of the month to discuss their demand for equal treatment with their expatriate colleagues.
What the inspectors are seeking is not just cash compensation, totalling as much as $1.5 million per officer, they also want an employment guarantee with a new contract after they receive the compensation and suggest their retirement age be extended from 55 to 57.
The association's leadership has yet to state its position on its members' request but surely they must know that this is a hard battle to fight, if it agrees to take up the subject with the administration.