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FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1975
DEFERMENT OF CLERKS PAY RISES CLARIFIED
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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY EMPHASISED THAT THE DECISION TO DEFER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE CLERICAL CLASS WAS +A DECISION OF THE GOVERNMENT AS A WHOLE.+
THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL GIVE CLERKS SALARY INCREASES AND IMPROVED PROMOTION PROSPECTS COSTING SOME $13.44 MILLION A YEAR AND ARE TO BE INTRODUCED FROM APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ALL 28 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE WERE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT, EXCEPT FOR ONE MODIFICATION CONCERNING PROFICIENCY INCREMENTS. HOWEVER, THE COMMITTEE'S PROPOSAL THAT THEY SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED FROM A RIL 1 THIS YEAR COULD NOT BE AGREED IN VIEW OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN HONG KONG.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IT IS THE NORMAL PRACTICE FOR REPORTS OF COMMITTEES TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE APPROPRIATE BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND ANY FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.
AS THE NORMAL PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED IN THE CASE OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE'S REPORT, THERE IS NO QUESTION OF 'GOVERNMENT PROMISES OR AGREEMENTS HAVING BEEN BROKEN' AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED IN SOME QUARTERS.
THE DECISION OF THE GOVERNMENT AS A WHOLE IS THAT THE PACKAGE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FROM APRIL 1, 1976.
THIS IS SUBJECT TO THE FINANCIAL SITUATION AT THAT DATE BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE A SIUTATION OF VERY REAL SERIOUSNESS IN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL TERMS TO PREVENT THESE ARRANGEMENTS FROM BEING IMPLEMENTED THEN.
IN A SPECIAL COMMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR. TONY HAMMOND, SAID HE COULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE CLERICAL ASSOCIATION IS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS CANNOT BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL NEXT YEAR, +JUST AS THERE IS DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY GENERALLY ABOUT THE UNAVOIDABLE POSTPONEMENT OF SOME OF THE PROPOSALS FOR EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION, SOCIAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES AND OTHER DESERVING CAUSES.+
MR. HAMMOND ADDED THAT THE CLERKS HAVE ALWAYS PERFORMED THEIR DUTIES EFFICIENTLY AND THE DEFERMENT OF THE SALARY IN- CREASE DOES NOT REFLECT AT ALL ON THEIR WORK. THE DECISION OF THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKEN PURELY FOR FINANCIAL REASONS.
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