Instead, the Commission is expected to advise the Governor
on the various aspects of its terms of reference as it reaches conclusions on them. In many cases it will be appropriate for the Administration to act on this advice, subject to any necessary reference to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. The advice of the Executive Council would however be sought on major issues and on important questions of principle.
13
The Commission's activities will be of legitimate interest to the whole civil service, as well as to the community at large. The Commission may therefore wish to publish periodic reports.
14
Subject to provision of the necessary funds, the Secretary- General designate is expected to start work in the second half of January. His staff are now being assembled.
15
The first problem to confront the Commission will be what to do about any major disputes over pay and structure which are still outstanding when the Commission starts work (probably in February). It is considered essential that the Commission should not give such disputes priority. To allow associations to "jump the queue" because they resort to or threaten industrial action is clearly undesirable and will discourage the far larger number of moderates who have so far resisted this temptation. Furthermore, ad hoc reviews of this nature would be perpetuating the system which the Commission is intended to replace; the review of principles needs to take place first, and grades then need to be reviewed in groups (because of the importance of relativities) rather than individually. However, depending on circumstances at the time, it may help to take the heat out of any major outstanding disputes if the Commission invited the relevant associations to appear before it and explain their grievances, while at the same time making it clear that their cases would not be given priority.
16
Apart from the problem of any outstanding major disputes, the main initial task of the Commission will be to advise on the principles and practices governing the grade and salary structure of the Civil Service. At the same time as the Commission considers principles and practices, it will probably wish to consider the question of how to carry out systematic reviews of the salary and structure of individual grades, as well as procedures to enable staff associations to express their views on these matters. It is thought that the Commission will require about six months to reach substantive conclusions on these issues.
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