}
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7. IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO BE REASONABLE
TO HEALTH INSPECTORS AND TO BE SYMPATHETIC TOWARDS THEIR CASE. HOWEVER, THE SIT-IN HAD DRAGGED ON FOR TWO WEEKS AND ALL REASONABLE
MEASURES TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT HAD FAILED TO PERSUADE THEM TO CALL OFF THEIR ACTION. BESIDES CAUSING DISRUPTION TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND THE INCONVENIENCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE SIT-IN WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE MORALE AND EFFICIENCY OF THE
LOYAL STAFF IN THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE CONTINUED PRESENCE IN THE WORK PLACE OF HEALTH INSPECTORS WHO REFUSED TO PERFOR DUTIES IMPOSED A SERIOUS MENTAL STRAIN ON THE SENIOR STAFF WHO WERE KEEPING THE SERVICES GOING BUT WHO WERE OCCASIONALLY BEING ABUSED AND HUMILIATED VERBALLY BY THEIR JUNIORS. ALSO, FURTHER DELAY BY THE GOVERNMENT IN TAKING ACTION AGAINST THE OFFICIERS INVOLVED IN THE SIT-IN WOULD BE SEEN BY OTHER CIVIL SERVICE UNIONS
AS A SIGN OF HESITATION AND WEAKNESS. THE URBAN COUNCIL TOO HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN AT THE EFFECTS OF THE SIT-IN ON THE WORK OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT WAS FELT THAT NOTHING COULD BE GAINED IN ALLOWING THE ASSOCIATION TO DRAG THE
MATTER ON FURTHER.
8. AFTER OBTAINING LEGAL ADVICE THAT THE REQUIREMENTS OF NATURAL
JUSTICE HAD BEEN ADEQUATELY MET THE GOVERNOR WAS INVITED AND HAD GIVEN APPROVAL ON 27 JUNE TO SUSPEND THE 314 OFFICERS WHO TOOK PART IN THE SIT-IN ACTION, THE SUSPENSION TO TAKE EFFECT FROM MID-NIGHT 28 JUNE, LETTERS WERE SENT TO THE OFFICERS CONCERNED AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE HAD ISSUED A PUBLIC APPEAL ON THE MORNING OF 28 JUNE TO URGE THE HEALTH INSPECTORS TO RETURN
TO WORK.
9. UP TO MIDDAY ON 30 JUNE, A TOTAL OF 43 OFFICERS WHO WERE SUSPENDED FROM DUTY HAD EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO RESUME NORMAL
DUTIES.
10. I SHALL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
MACLEHOSE
FILE S HK & GD OLA
[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED]
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
LONDON
2
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