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Letter to Chris Edge Honours Secretary FCO
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Post Letter to Chris Edge Honours Secretary FCO 
Mr Christopher Edge
Honours Secretary
Honours Secretariat
Room 1/62
Old Admiralty Building
London SW1A2PA
United Kingdom


29th October 2006


Dear Mr Edge

Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM)-

I understand from other veterans that the current restriction on the wearing of the PJM is being reconsidered. I am saddened that we have treated an award by a Commonwealth ally in such a fashion. There is a genuine warmth shown towards veterans by the Malaysian people and I know that this issue has upset many in Malaysia quite apart from the veterans themselves.

Perhaps the way foreign decorations are considered and accepted could be updated to the 21st century not the 19th century since I find it hard to believe that it takes a committee of grown men so long to determine what the issues are and the correct course of action to take. For your edification and benefit I attach a paper showing the procedures that the Australian Government take in considering a foreign award. Just think the FCO if it followed this enlightened procedure could probably do away with the HD committee altogether.

I sincerely hope that veterans will receive news shortly that there are no longer restrictions on wearing the Pingat Jasa Malaysia. I like many other veterans hope HMG does the right thing so that we can get on with our lives without having to write to parliamentarians and civil servants. By now you will have appreciated the fortitude and determination veterans have on this matter. We will fight for our cause till our last breath if necessary.

I look forward to your news on this matter.


Yours sincerely



Hamish Waters
Borneo Veteran, British Army

http://www.fight4thepjm.org

Accepting a foreign award
Australian citizens may accept and wear foreign awards when a government with which Australia maintains diplomatic relations makes an offer. Australians may also accept and wear foreign awards when an offer is made by an agency of the United Nations or by other international organisations recognised diplomatically by Australia.

An offer is usually made through diplomatic channels to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Permission for formal acceptance and wearing of foreign awards is given by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister or the Minister responsible for Australian honours.

Guidelines
Foreign awards are subject to the Guidelines Concerning the Acceptance and Wearing of Foreign Honours and Awards by Australians. The most recent Australian Guidelines were gazetted on 22 December 1997.


(Taken from Commonwealth of Australia Gazette Special
NO S 548, Monday 22 December 1997
)

Government HouseCanberra ACT 2600

22 December 1997


GUIDELINES CONCERNING THE ACCEPTANCE AND WEARING OF FOREIGN HONOURS AND AWARDS BY AUSTRALIANS

His Excellency the Governor-General directs that it be notified for general information that on 5 December 1997, on the advice of the Prime Minister, Her Majesty The Queen of Australia approved the following guidelines concerning the acceptance and wearing of foreign honours and awards (referred to collectively in these guidelines as “foreign awards”) by Australians, which replace all previous guidelines:

1) “Government service” means the service of the Commonwealth Government or of any State or Territory Government and includes service in any appointment remunerated by or on behalf of any such Government.

2) Subject to the conditions described below, Australian citizens may accept and wear foreign awards when an offer is made by the Head of State or the Government of a country with which Australia maintains diplomatic relations; or by an official agency of the United Nations; or by other international organisations recognised diplomatically by Australia.

3) Permission for the formal acceptance and wearing of foreign awards can be given by the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister or the Minister with portfolio responsibility for the Australian honours system.

4) Permission for the formal acceptance and wearing of foreign awards to Australian Defence Force personnel will, in the first instance, be subject to advice to the Department of the Minister with portfolio responsibility for the honours system from the Chief of the Defence Force, or his delegate, on whether or not it is appropriate for the permission to be given.

5) Proposals to give Australian citizens foreign awards should be made in advance through recognised diplomatic or other official channels with full details of the reasons for the proposed award.

6) Awards presented to Australian citizens without prior warning may be accepted to avoid giving offence. However, arrangements should be made as soon as possible for a formal approach through diplomatic or other official channels.

7) There is no objection to foreign awards presented without official permission being worn on the right breast at private functions or at special services of commemoration or at ceremonies held in connection with that country.

Cool Formal approval for the acceptance of foreign awards by Australians will be communicated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the relevant foreign Government, United National agency or international organisations as the case may be. However, the Australian Government reserves the right not to recommend the granting of permission for the formal acceptance of any foreign award which judges to be contrary to Australian policy or interests.

9) Foreign awards which provide for the use of post-nominals or titles in their country of origin may only be accepted on the understanding that the use of the post-nominals or honorary titles by Australians in Australia will not be recognised officially. Foreign awards are to be worn in accordance with The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards.

10) Subject to the conditions of these Guidelines, persons in government service may accept foreign awards. For persons engaged in government service, the wearing of foreign award insignia of the left breast of an official uniform or when on official duty is subject in all instances to the dress regulations and other appropriate considerations of the services concerned. Requests to wear foreign awards on official duty should be addressed to the chief officer of the relevant service.

11) There shall be a Registrar of Awards who shall be appointed by the Governor-General and shall maintain a register of the names of Australian citizens who have been given formal permission to accept particular foreign awards. Persons given permission to accept and wear foreign awards prior to the establishment of these Guidelines may apply in writing to the Governor-General for their name to be placed on the Register.

12) Persons awarded foreign awards prior to becoming Australian citizens do not need to seek approval to wear the insignia thereof in a private capacity.

13) A person in government service awarded a foreign award before becoming an Australian citizen must seek approval to wear the insignia on official duty in accordance with paragraph 10.

14) In extraordinary or unusual circumstances permission for the formal acceptance and wearing of foreign awards by Australians may be recommended to the Governor-General by the responsible Minister without formal approach though diplomatic or other official channels to the foreign government concerned.

15) These Guidelines have no bearing on the right of Her Majesty The Queen of Australia, honouring Her Australian subjects with awards in Her personal Order or other honours which are wholly within Her Majesty’s own gift.

By His Excellency’s Command

Douglas Sturkey
Official Secretary to
The Governor-General

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Great stuff Hamish, a real beaut(note the Oz twang!)

Did you know that 330000 Brits are leaving the UK each year, I wonder if they have heard about the HD Committees decisions and thought I'm off!


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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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