FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1977
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GOVERNMENT STILL READY TO TALK TO
GOVERNMENT SCHOOL NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS UNION
******
THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL READY TO TALK TO THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS' UNION, ALTHOUGH IT SEES NO REASON FOR CHANGING ITS DECISION THAT SURPLUS PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS SHOULD BE RE-DEPLOYED OR ELSE COMPULSORILY RETIRED IN 1980.
THIS IS STATED IN A LETTER WHICH THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. ERIC HO, HAS SENT TO THE UNION'S PRESIDENT, MR. LEUNG YIM-TONG.
MR. HO WAS REPLYING TO A LETTER FROM THE UNION DATED SEPTEMBER 21 WHICH CALLED FOR SUSPENSION OF THE MEASURES TO RE-DEPLOY GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND FOR DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS WITH A GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT OFFICER.
HE STATED: +THE POLICY DECISION THAT GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO ARE SURPLUS TO OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE RE-DEPLOYED, OR ELSE COMPULSORILY RETIRED IN 1980 WAS MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT AFTER TAKING THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND 1 SEE NO REASON TO RECOMMEND ANY CHANGE IN THIS DECISION.
+1 REGRET, THEREFORE, THAT I AM NOT PREPARED TO SUSPEND THE MEASURES NOW BEING TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THIS DECISION, INCLUDING THE RE-DEPLOYMENT OF TEACHERS TO OTHER JOBS WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS,
+HOWEVER, AS I HAVE STATED IN MY LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 17, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION REMAINS WILLING TO MEET YOUR UNION EITHER IN THE CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OR OUTSIDE IT, TO DISCUSS THESE MEASURES, AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL BE HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE TO GIVE ADVICE ON ANY GENERAL QUESTIONS THAT ARISE CONCERNING RE-DEPLOYMENT OR RETIREMENT.+
THE LETTER STRESSES THAT THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION IS FULLY EMPOWERED TO SPEAK FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN ANY DISCUSSIONS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT, IN RESPONSE TO GOVERNMENT'S OFFER OF JOBS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OR IN OTHER CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, A LARGE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HAD ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED.
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