5.

Secretary for Education and Manpower: No, Sir, there has not

been unanimity of views. I was not intending to suggest there

had been.

Mr. DESMOND LEE (in Cantonese): Sir, could I ask whether

there had been any cases of employees in the past who because

they were afraid of losing the particular protection under

the Ordinance, had refused a raise in salary exceeding $11,500 ?

Secretary for Education and Manpower:

Sir, I have heard

I am

this idea mentioned in conversation as a possibility.

not aware of there being any actual cases.

Mr. TAM (in Cantonese): Sir, in 1974, 1979 and 1981

respectively, the Ordinance has been amended to raise the

r

wage ceiling and on those occasions Government officials had

repeatedly mentioned that they were considering doing away with

the wage ceiling altogether.

That particular attitude

when compared with the reply in front of this Council now

would seem that this particular reply is not positive enough.

Is there any explanation for this change in attitude ?

Secretary for Education and Manpower: Sir, I cannot speak for

my predecessors. As far as I am concerned, I would tend to

be guided by the views of the Labour Advisory Board.

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