Fringe Benefits
5
8.
Fringe
speeches.
benefits
also
featured in several
Miss Maria Tam and, I think, Dr Ip suggested
it was time to re-examine fringe benefits generally.
Divergent views were expressed on overseas
allowances. Mr Cheung Yan-lung thought the
education
allowances
should be extended and made more flexible to cover
On the other hand,
Dr Ip
university education.
questioned the rationale for such allowances.
9.
Overseas
Service
But I
I accept that it is timely to look afresh at
several fringe benefits accorded hitherto, particularly
education allowances. Indeed, well ahead of
Dr Ip, an in-house review of Overseas education
allowances and some other benefits was
was recently put in
hand with a view to seeing whether there is scope for
what one might describe as "modernising" the fringe
benefits available. The review, when concluded, will be
referred to the Standing Commission on Civil
Salaries and Conditions of Service for advice.
should like to remind Members that, if the Civil Service
is to remain a viable organisation, its conditions of
service must be sufficiently competitive to maintain our
ability to attract and retain high calibre staff at all
levels. Fringe benefits are an important element in the
overall remuneration package, particularly from the point
of view of continuity of service and the long term
retention of staff and experience. The Government
continue to be a good employer and, as an
employer, to remain competitive with the private sector.
intends
to