their part of the bargain.
They believe that it would not be
practical to require by law one party to enter into any collective agreement with the other on conditions of
employment in view of Hong Kong's circumstances such as a high labour mobility, a low union participation rate (about 19%) and predominance of small employers (about 93% of establishments have less than 20 employees).
The "Labour Management Joint Consultative Committee" is aimed at improving management/staff communication. It is not intended to replace the trade unions in collective bargaining. In line with the provisions of ILO Convention No 98, the Hong Kong Government has taken measures appropriate to local conditions to encourage and promote voluntary negotiation between employers and employees or their respective organisations.
Labour Relations
P
Public Service (ILO Convention 151)
It its
The Senior Civil Service Council was established in 1968 following an agreement between the Government and three main staff associations, which represent a wide spectrum of civil servants. The Staff Side membership of the Council is also open to well-established unions provided they meet certain criteria agreed between the official and Staff Sides. 1988 review, the Standing Commission also examined the proposal of "election" to the Staff Side of Senior Civil Service Council. It found that "the formulation of an acceptable franchise system would
present even more problems than would the devising of an appropriate new structure of representation", eg whether each union (there are over 200 altogether) is entitled to one vote or the number of votes should be based on membership. The Standing Commission concluded that the existing system has provided for a balanced representation and recommended no major change to the existing admission system. The Hong Kong Government has accepted this
recommendation.
On the disqualification of civil servants from seeking candidature and election to the District Boards, Urban, Regional and Legislative Councils, and LegCo, the Hong Kong Government maintains that it is important that the civil service remains politically neutral in order to ensure that government business is, and is seen to be, conducted impartially.
Yours sincerely
lem Rull
ALASTAIR GOODLAD
(Approved by the Minister and
signed in his absence by
Ian Ruff, Assistant Private Secretary