8. Notwithstanding section 6, the employees in office in a federal hospital designated by the Government who are grouped under an employment to which this plan applies may elect to contribute to this plan or to a retirement plan established by the Government similar to the plan to which they were previously contributing.
The election provided for in the first paragraph shall be exercised in accordance with the rules and conditions fixed by the Government.
The second and third paragraphs of section 7 apply to this section.