(a)
29.
minor administrative changes affecting the testing of technical skills and advancement opportunities for Shorthand Audio Typists.
A group of dissidents, hearing of the agreement, collected signatures from Shorthand Audio Typists and on 24th November 1976 wrote to the Secretary for the Civil Service submitting 337 signatures and asking that Government's proposals as already agreed should not be implemented pending further consultations.
30.
A reply was sent to the dissidents on 4th December 1976, pointing out that consultations had taken place with a formally constituted committee of a Unit of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants Association and that implementation of restructuring could not be further delayed.
31.
Subsequently on 4th December 1976 due notice having been given, the first committee of the SATS Unit was superseded by a fresh committee. On 8th December 1976, the second committee wrote asking for an early meeting with the Official Side; a meeting was arranged and took place on 20th December 1976.
32.
At the meeting the Staff Side asked for detailed explanations of the restructuring and for the date by which individuals were required to return their options to be extended by a further 5 weeks.
33.
The Official Side explained the restructuring and agreed the deferrment of options. The Staff Side then asked for time to go into all points raised and for a further meeting on 20th January 1977. The Official Side agreed.
34.
The meeting on 20th January 1977 achieved no progress. The Staff Side seemingly in anticipation of their requests not being methanded a letter setting out their requests in full to the Official Side at the close of the meeting. not ask for a further meeting. Their letter was answered on the 26th January 1977.
They did
35.