It's obvious that 65 applies when the company goes 'ON SHORE' as they are then legally compelled to adhere to the law of that country(u.k. first)....something they've been avoiding (abusing) for nearly 15 years.
If you are (non C and T) 'A' scale in hong kong then you must retire at 55 and take a freighter payscale extension beyond 55 until the law changes regarding 65 retirement.
Of course there will magically be 'no available basings' for hong kong a-scale crew while the exchange rate continues to deteriorate.
I love the way P. 'Skywalker' phrased his notice to crew ...how the company was 'compelled to extend retirement age to 65' and how they magnanimously retained much of the 'AOA input'.
If it smells like it...it sure is!
Not quite. Absolutely correct regarding retirement age but not so re A scale in HKG. From April 08 all extendees who were previously on A scale but went onto B scale after extension will go back onto original COS including "green page" conditions ie as they were before extension.