14.
Yet as currently functioning it appears that the only grievances SCSC
can handle are those couched in a framework of discussion about service
wide terms and conditions of service.
Consequently, individual grievances at grade and departmental level
have as remedies only a personal and ad hoc appeal to their respective
Departmental Assistant Secretary (Personnel) and their Head of
Department, who may at their discretion involve the CSB. What frequently
occurs at present in the absence of a formal grievance machinery, permit-
ting careful deliberation and full representation through a series of
regular stages, is that aggrieved groups make their case public and
try to generate pressure for a remedy by appeals on wall posters or
through the mass media, if not more direct action such as "go-slows".
Departmental consultative Councils
The second tier of consultative machinery consists in departmental
councils and sub-committees in the case of large departments. The
establishment of these bodies has not been made mandatory but CSB fosters
their establishment and advises Heads of Department individually on
appropriate constitutions as a matter of policy. Currently there are
some 24 departments with a total of 33 consultative councils.
number of departments on the Hong Kong Government overall is 42.
The
The departmental machinery is essentially informal and meetings are
chaired by the Head of Department of his representative. Several
constitutional forms have been developed for consultative committees
in different departments. Typically, the number of representatives
from particular grades or occupations is specified. The grade or
departmental associations do not necessarily possess a monopoly of