At the Court at Buckingham Palace

THE 15th DAY OF FEBRUARY 2023

PRESENT,

THE KING’S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY

IN COUNCIL

WHEREAS by section 3 of the Naval and Marine Pay and Pensions Act 1865(a), it is enacted that all pensions payable in respect of service in His Majesty's Naval or Marine Forces to a person being or having been a Seaman or Marine therein, shall be paid in such manner and subject to such restrictions, conditions and provisions as are from time to time directed by Order in Council:

AND whereas by Order in Council dated 30th March 1977 rates denominated in Hong Kong dollars and conditions of awards of service pensions, terminal grants and service gratuities were laid down for Naval ratings locally entered at Hong Kong:

AND whereas it is expedient to provide for the increase of certain pensions granted to Locally Engaged Rating of the Hong Kong Division to correspond with the benefits provided, in the case of civil pensions, by the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971(b), as amended by the Superannuation Act 1972(c):

NOW, therefore His Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred upon Him by the said Act of 1865 and all other powers enabling Him in that behalf, is pleased, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows:

1. This Order may be cited as the Naval and Marine Pay and Pensions (Hong Kong Locally Engaged Ratings' Service Pensions Increase) Order 2023.

2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 of the Schedule to this Order, the pensions granted to Locally Engaged Ratings of the Hong Kong Division shall be increased in accordance with paragraph 2 of the Schedule.

Richard Tilbrook, CVO

(a) 1865 c.73 (b) 1971 c.56 (c) 1972 c.11

SCHEDULE

PENSION INCREASES

1. A pension to which this Schedule relates may be increased provided either that:

(a) the pensioner has attained the age of 55 years, or

(b) the pension is a widow's pension, or

(c) the pensioner was invalided from Naval Service, or

(d) the pensioner is permanently incapacitated by physical or mental infirmity from engaging in regular full-time employment.

2. The appropriate percentage increase for those currently entitled to receive Pension Increases shall be as follows:-

4.4% from 1st January 2023