RS 470
UNCLASSIFIED
ADMIN IN CONFIDENCE
FM HONG KONG 280952Z NOV 79
TO ROUTINE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1669 OF 28 NOVEMBER
HKK 430|l
RECEIVED
(54
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
PA
No
R FAR
1
STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS
OF SERVICE.
1. ON 23 OCTOBER, WE SENT YOU COPIES OF THE COMMISSION'S FIRST REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY' AND THE RELEVANT CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM. THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT IS THAT ON 27 NOVEMBER 1979, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISED AND THE GOVERNOR ORDERED THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE COMMISSION'S FIRST REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY SHOULD BE ACCEPTED, SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF THE
NECESSARY FUNDS BY FINANCE COMMITTEE.
2. A PRESS RELEASE THE SAME DAY ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE
COUNCIL HAD NOTED THAT OVER 300 REPRESENTATIONS ON THE REPORT HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM STAFF AND MANAGEMENT, AND THAT IT HAD ADVISED THAT THESE WHOULD BE REFERRED FORTHWITH TO THE COMMISSION. IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAD CONSIDERED
REPRESENTATIONS THAT THE NEW PAY SCALES SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE FROM 1 APRIL 1979, INSTEAD OF 1 OCTOBER 1979 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSION, BUT HAD CONCLUDED THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE SHOULD BE 1 OCTOBER. IN SO DOING, THE COUNCIL HAD NOTED THAT THE REVISED PAY SCALES RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSION WERE
DIFFERENT IN NATURE FROM OVERALL PAY INCREASED BASED ON COST
OF LIVING INCREASES OR ON TRENDS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE
COUNCIL ALSO NOTED THAT WHEN AN OVERALL PAY REVIEW FOR 1980-81 COMES TO BE CONSIDERED, THERE WAS NO INTENTION OF DEDUCTING FROM ANY SUCH ADJUSTMENT THE INCREASES EFFECTIVE FROM 1 OCTOBER
1979.
3. IT WAS ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE PROPOSALS WOULD BE PUT TO
FINANCE COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER, AND THAT IT WAS HOPED TO HAVE
PAYMENTS MADE BEFORE CHINESE NEW YEAR.
/4. INITIAL