Cap. 588 Art. 20Offer of permanent employment with the Agency to public officers detailed for duty with the Agency.    Cap. 93. Cap. 58.    Cap. 58.

(1) The Agency may, with the approval of the Prime

Minister, offer permanent employment with the Agency to any officer detailed for duty with the Agency under article 18(3) at the remuneration and on terms and conditions not less favourable than those enjoyed by such officer on the date of such offer.

(2) The terms and conditions of any permanent employment offered by the Agency under the provisions of sub-article (1) shall not be deemed to be less favourable merely because they are not in all respects identical or superior to those enjoyed by the public officer concerned on the date of such offer, if such terms and conditions, taken as a whole, in the opinion of the Prime Minister offer substantially equivalent or greater benefits.

(3) Every public officer who accepts permanent employment with the Agency offered to him under the provisions of sub-article (1)

shall, for all purposes other than those of the Pensions Ordinance and of the Widows’ and Orphans’ Pensions Act, and saving the provisions of article 21, be deemed to have ceased to be in service with the Government and to have entered into service with the Agency on the date of his acceptance, and for the purposes of the said Ordinance and of the said Act, so far as applicable to him, service with the Agency shall be deemed to be service with the Government within the meanings thereof respectively.

(4) Every such public officer as aforesaid who, immediately before accepting permanent employment with the Agency was entitled to benefit under the Widows’ and Orphans’ Pensions Act, shall continue to be so entitled to benefit thereunder for all intents as if his service with the Agency were service with the Government.

(5) The Agency shall pay to the Government such contributions as may from time to time be determined by the Minister responsible for finance in respect of the cost of pensions and gratuities earned by an officer who has accepted permanent employment with the Agency as aforesaid during the period commencing on the date of such officer’s acceptance.