GAS 920
CODENTIAL
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 018715Z DEC 78
97
To:
OPY
HKK 430/1
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDONIECETYLO II REGISTWY RO. 51 TELEGRAM NUMBER 1446 OF 1 DECEMBER
INFO PRIORITY F CO
-
4 DEC1973
DPSK OF
INDEX
PA
¶ Y
Action TAOT
QE
FOR BRAY FROM GOVERNOR.
1. PLEASE CONTACT PETER WILLIAMS (TELEPHONE IN CORNWALL 208-85-323,
OR IN LONDON 01-949-4290) TO SEE IF HE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A SIX-MONTH JOB AS SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE PROPOSED NEW ''STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF
SERVICE''. I SHOULD EXPECT THE COMMISSION TO START WORK ABOUT
1 FEBRUARY 1979 AND HE WOULD HAVE TO ARRIVE A WEEK OR TWO IN
ADVANCE.
2. 1 AM NOT SURE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW ABOUT THE BACKGROUND. THERE HAVE BEEN A SERIES OF MINOR INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, MOSTLY TO DO WITH RELATIVITIES IN THE SUB-PROFESSIONAL GRADES. NO DOUBT INADEQUATE MANAGEMENT IN THE FACE OF RAPID EXPANSION IS PARTLY TO BAME, AND THIS IS BEING DEALT WITH. NEVERTHELESS HONG KONG AND THE FUNCTIONS OF SOME PARTS OF SOME GRADES OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE, AND PERHAPS THE EXPECTATION OF THE
SERVICE AS A WHOLE, HAVE CHANGED A GOOD DEAL SINCE THE LAST SALARIES COMMISSION IN 1971. AS YOU KNOW THIS WAS NOT THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL OF SUCH COMMISSIONS, AND SOWED THE SEEDS OF SOME OF THE PRESENT PROBLEMS.
3. WE FIND WE HAVE REACHED A STAGE AT WHICH WE CAN MAKE NO FURTHER
PROGRESS IN TACKLING THE GRIEVANCES OF INDIVIDUAL GRADES, PEACUSE WE COME UP AGAINST RELATIVITIES. HENCE THE NEED FOR AN IMPARTIAL BODY THAT WILL TAKE A COMPLETE REVIEW.
4. WE THOUGHT THAT IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES THE OLD CONCEPT OF A
SALARIES COMMISSION WHICH WOULD PRODUCE A REPORT AND THEN DISSOLVE WOULD BE UNSATISFACTORY, AND THAT WHAT IS. NEEDED IS
A CONTINUING BODY - INCIDENTALLY THIS WOULD MAKE ITS RECOMMENDATIONS
FAR MORE RESPONSIBLE.
CONFIDENTIAL
/ 5. BECAUSE OF