น.
Since Hong Kong Government wishes to appear both as a strong-willed public
authority and a moral leader in the employment field, the device of 'joint
consultation' as the lynchpin of staff relations has its attractions as
an appropriate compromise. Government policy is to grant its employees
"a voice in matters affecting their employment". According to a recent
official publication issued under the imprimatur of the Civil Service
Branch, which possesses central responsibility for staff relations:
civil servant is free to be a member of any association or trade union
which will admit him under its rules of membership. Civil servants are,
moreover, encouraged to belong to associations, for the existance. of
capable or responsible staff associations not only promotes good staff
relations, but is essential to effective consultation on condition of
service". (3)
"A
Staff Relations Policy
Formally, staff relations policy is based on the principle of joint
consultation-and not joint negotiation or collective bargaining with
its implication that the management or official side has entered into any
obligation to reach an agreement with the Staff Associations on substantive
terms or conditions of service.
-The Central Staff Consultative machinery was established in the year
following the 1966-7 disturbances by agreement between the government
and the three-main staff associations. (4)
(3) Hong Kong Government Publication 'Staff Relations in the Hong Kong
Civil Service'.1976
(4) These are: Association of Expatriate Civil Servants of Hong Kong,
Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants Association, and the Senior Non-- Expatriate Officer Association. Respective membership of these organisations in 1976 was approximately 1108, 4470 and 1589. Their organizations & activities will be discussed in more detail later.