3
Even by Hong Kong standsrds civil service unions are very small.
They are disproportionately represented amongst unions with the lowest
membership. On average, civil service associations are smaller than other
independent unions which, in turn, are smaller than those affiliated to
the FTU. They do compare favourably with unions affiliated or friendly
i
to the TUC, which is declining in relative strength.
The majority of civil service unions restrict their membership to
Three unions claim some form of general
a specific grade or department.
coverage - The Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants Association (HKCCSA), the
Senior Non-Expatriates Association (SNEOA) and the Association of Expatriate
The HKCCSA can enlist all civil
Civil Servants
V
Hong Kong (AECSHK).
servants. The SHEOA confines its membership to those earning $5,000 (HK)
:4
per month or more while the AECSHK is restricted to expatriates. These
three unions are amongst the oldest civil service associations (circa 1949)
and are the only ones entitled to consult with the government over general
conditions of service.
-The civil service is the most rapidly growing area of union organisation
in Hong Kong. Between 1961 and 1976 membership rose from 11,535-to 34,743.
}
*
(or over 200%), far outstripping the growth in civil service employment for
the same period (135%). Growth was most pronounced after 1971. In the last
-two years it has risen by 31%...
The rate of increase in the number of organisations is even more
dramatic. In 1961 chere were 15 specific civil service unions. By February
1977, this figure had jumped to 79. Again, growth has been most significant
in the last six years. In the two years up to 1975/6, civil service unions
constituted over 80% of all new union registrations. Thus, while total
membership has grown rapidly, the average membership of civil service unions
4
has declined from 769 in 1961 to 445 by 1976.
4. There were 2,576 expatriates in civil service employment as of April 1976.