CONFIDENTIAL
2. BOTH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE ARE CONVINCED THAT THE NEW PAY AND PROMOTION ARRANGEMENTS ARE GOOD IN COMPARISON WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THAT THEY CANNOT JUSTIFY ANYTHING MORE. THE GOVERNMENT IS THEREFORE APPLYING TO FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW STRUCTRUE, AND WILL THEN DO SO FOR ALL WHO RETURN TO NORMAL WORK.
3. NEVERTHELESS I REMAIN PERPLEXED ABOUT THE ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS
SOME DIFFICULTY IN MAKING GENUINE COMPARISONS WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY OF TASKS WHICH SURVEY
ASSISTANTS UNDERTAKE. FOR THEIR PART THEY DO APPEAR TO BE UNDER A GENUINE SENSE OF GRIEVANCE. I AM THEREFORE ANXIOUS TO ESTABLISH BEYOND DOUBT WHETHER THEIR GROUNDS ARE GOOD OR BAD, BOTH BECAUSE I WISH TO BE SURE THAT GOVERNMENT IS BEING FAIR, AND ALSO BECAUSE IF THE GRIEVANCE IS WELL BASED IT COULD SPREAD TO OTHER RELATED SEMI-PROFESSIONAL GRADES TO WHOM THE NEW PAY STRUCTURE WILL
BE APPLIED.
4. I WOULD THEREFORE LIKE TO COUPLE THE AWARD WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT AN ENQUIRY WILL BE UNDERTAKEN BY AN IMPARTIAL OUTSIDE PERSONALITY, AND -THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ADJUST THE AWARD IF NECESSARY IN THE LIGHT OF THE ENQUIRER'S FINDINGS.
5. I DO NOT SEE HOW GOVERNMENT COULD ACT MORE FAIRLY THAN THIS, AND I SHOULD HOPE IT WOULD RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE RETURN TO WORK OF THE SURVEY ASSISTANTS AND REMOVE ANY POSSIBILITY OF THE SENSE OF GRIEVANCE SPREADING.
6. THE ENQUIRY REQUIRES SOMEONE WITH A LEGALLY TRAINED MIND, UNCONNECTED WITH EITHER GOVERNMENT OR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, .. WHO IS KNOWN IN HONG KONG, AND CAN FIND HIS WAY REASONABLY FAST THROUGH THE COMPLICATED FACTS. AND CONFLICTING VIEWS AND REACH A FIRM DECISION. AFTER CONSULTING THE PRO-VICE-CHANCELLOR I AM ADVISED THAT YOU WOULD BE VERY SUITABLE AND THIS APPROACH HAS HIS
17. IT SUPPORT.
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