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AKK 430/1
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5 MAR 1979
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مقامه
Sir Murray MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVO Flagstaff House HONG KONG
DEBA
INDEX
A
5 March 1979
See (19)
STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
1.
The helpful progress reports which we have been receiving from the Civil Service Branch enabled me to submit to Lord Goronwy-Roberts on the background to the new Standing Commission, its membership and terms of reference, and reactions to it in Hong Kong. The Minister of State welcomed the establish- ment of the Commission as a major and positive step.
But you should know that he also expressed disappointment that there is no trade unionist to be found among its members.
2. I realise that it is not at all easy to find suitable trades unionists to serve on bodies of this kind. I also appreciate that the Staff Side representatives were consulted about the composition of the Commission and supported (or at any rate did not object to) the final choice of members. But it does seem to us that the membership is a little lop-sided, with five people who might be regarded as employers, and Father McGovern the nearest thing to a representative of the interests of the rank and file.
3. I have seen reports about the threat by the Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union to resort to industrial action unless Government introduce changes in the composition of the Standing Commission. Civil Service Branch have sent us some useful background material, and I accept that this particular union does not enjoy wide support. But I am a little concerned that they may try to mount a campaign in this country and that we shall find ourselves faced with a crop of Pis and MPs' letters as a result. As seen from here it would be much easier to defend the decision to go for a genuinely independent body, with neither Government nor Staff Side represented, if the Commission included at least one trades unionist among its members.
Is there any possibility of repairing the omission, for example. by making an additional appointment under Article IX of the Commission's terms of reference, or by appointing a trades unionist as an Expert Adviser? (Lord Goronwy-Roberts suggested that if no one suitable was available in Hong Kong - and he expressed some scepicism
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