The combination of HIPPARCOS measurements with suitable ground-based astrometric data improves significantly the accuracy of the proper motions of bright stars. The comparison of both types of data allows us also to identify and to eliminate, at least partially, cosmic errors in the quasi-instantaneously measured HIPPARCOS data which are caused by undetected astrometric binaries. We describe a simple averaging method for the combination of two independent compilation catalogues. The combination of the basic FK5 with HIPPARCOS leads to the Sixth Catalogue of Fundamental Stars (FK6). The accuracy of the FK6 proper motions is higher than that of HIPPARCOS by a factor of about 2 in the single-star mode, and by a factor of more than 4 in the long-term prediction mode which takes cosmic errors into account. We present also the error budget for a combination of the Boss General Catalogue (GC) with HIPPARCOS data. We point out problems with known binaries, and identify an ensemble of astrometrically excellent stars.
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