2
Older
years and because they are most prone to emigrate. officers scoring less under the age points might well score more under experience. The Governor also has the power to allocate "special circumstances" points in individual cases where the significance of age and experience may otherwise not be adequately recognised.
Thirdly, you suggest that too few places have been allocated to civilian civil servants in comparison with the disciplined services; we do not believe that this is the case. Those in sensitive posts will be eligible to apply under the Sensitive Services Class. In addition civil servants will also be able to apply under the various occupational categories in the General Occupational Class.
Indeed a
separate quota has been reserved for civil servants in the first occupational group (Managers and Administrators) so that they will not have to compete against private sector applicants.
Finally, you express concern about security of pensions. The payment of pensions is now a statutory charge on general revenue. Both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law also contain very clear assurances about the continued payment of pensions after 1997. There is no reason to believe that this undertaking will not be honoured by the future SAR Government. Pensions payments represent only a very small percentage of annual recurrent expenditure and the Hong Kong Government have every confidence that future pension payments can be met.
Nevertheless, the Hong Kong Government are considering whether any further measures can be taken to address the concerns expressed by your members and other civil service staff associations. While full funding of pensions has been ruled out for financial reasons, careful consideration is being given to other possibilities, including partial funding of pensions, higher commutation of pensions and the establishment of a provident fund.
Your sincerely
Tut. Tikh
贴
Peter Tibber
Private Secretary to the Earl of Caithness