VMS Help PASCAL, Data Types, Pointer Types, POINTER  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

  The POINTER predefined  type  is  compatible  with  all  pointer
  types.   Variables  or  functions  of  type  POINTER  cannot  be
  dereferenced or used with the NEW and  DISPOSE  procedures.   In
  order to access the data, you must assign the pointer value into
  a variable of a particular pointer type or typecast the  pointer
  to  a  particular  pointer  type.   For example, you can use the
  POINTER type in the following ways:

   o  To assign to or from any other type  of  pointer,  including
      function result variables

   o  To compare equality with any other type of pointer

   o  To pass actual parameters of type POINTER to VAR  and  value
      parameters of any other type of pointer

   o  To accept parameters of  any  other  type  of  pointer  with
      formal parameters of type POINTER