HKFooey,
Nobody's going to voluntarily agree to concessions, the DFO knows that. The DFO is just preparing the ground to issue a "sign or be fired". If you weren't around in 1999, ask an oldf@rt to explain what's about to happen.
Soon, it won't matter what's written in your COS and what's not. Had you accepted last year's TA, it would also be in the DFO's crosshairs. However, clause 7 was not dependent on the rest of TA, it would have survived a "signed or be fired" and limited your ability to defend yourself. This was all explained on the HKAOA forums last year. That's why clause 7 was so dangerous.