WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1978
NEW INDEPENDENT SALARIES COMMISSION REQUIRED
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IN INCIDENTS OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY CIVIL SERVANTS, IT IS MOST UNSATISFACTORY, AS IT IS THE PRESENT PRACTICE, TO REFER AGGRIEVED PARTIES TO THE SENIOR STAFF OF THEIR OWN DEPARTMENTS, DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THIS IS SO FROM THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE OFFICERS' POINT OF VIEW. +THE DEPARTMENT HAS THE UNENVIABLE TASK OF NOT ONLY IDENTIFYING ITSELF WITH THE 'MANAGEMENT' BUT MUST ALSO BE SEEN TO BE LOYAL TO ITS OWN STAFF. THERE IS BOUND TO BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST HERE, HE SAID,
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WITH THE GROWING COMPLEXITIES AND SOPHISTICATION OF OUR SOCIETY AND THE COMMUNITY'S ASPIRATIONS TOWARDS THE BETTER THINGS IN LIFE, THE GOVERNMENT, AS A GOOD EMPLOYER, MUST ENSURE THAT BASIC SALARY SCALES AND THE STRUCTURE OF A PARTICULAR CLASS OF OFFICERS OR DIFFERENT RANKS WITHIN IT, REMA IN APPROPRIATE FOR THE DUTIES INVOLVED.
HE FELT THAT A BETTER MACHINERY TO RESOLVE STAFF DISPUTES OVER PAY AND CAREER PROSPECTS IS URGENTLY REQUIRED, MORE PARTICULARLY SINCE STRIKE ACTION OR WORK TO RULE WOULD BRING HARDSHIP TO NEEDY FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO RELY ON THE SERVICES IN QUESTION.
HE SUGGESTED THAT SINCE THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE AND INTERNAL RELATIVITIES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE ARE NOW SOMEWHAT OUT OF PHASE, A NEW INDEPENDENT SALARIES COMMISSION COMPRISING EXPERTS KNOWLEDGEABLE IN HONG KONG, SHOULD NOW BE APPOINTED TO LOOK INTO THE SERVICE ACROSS THE BOARD.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A NEED FOR A STANDING COMMITTEE TO ACT AS WATCHDOG, PERHAPS ALONG THE LINES OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SUPERSCALE SALARIES.
DR. FANG WELCOMED THE IMPROVED ELIGIBILITY FOR HOUSING FOR GOVERNMENT DOCTORS WHICH HE THOUGHT WOULD PERSUADE SOME OF THEM TO STAY LONGER.
+IN HONG KONG'S CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE GOOD HOUSING COMMANDS SUCH A HIGH PREMIUM, A SCHEME TO ENABLE DOCTORS AND OTHER ELIGIBLE OFFICERS, IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE AND SEX, TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN ACCOMMODATION WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS RETAINING EXPERIENCED STAFF WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE, + HE SAID,
THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT ALSO DO WELL TO OBTAIN INSURANCE COVER FOR ITS DOCTORS WHOSE PROFESSION IS MORE VULNERABLE TO CLAIMS OF MALPRACTICE THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE EXTENT OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF PROVIDES IN CASES OF LITIGATION IS DEPENDENT ON THE CULPABILITY OF THE OFFICER INVOLVED.
THIS ELEMENT OF UNCERTAINTY IS OBVIOUSLY WORRYING TO THE STAFF, HE SAID, UPON WHOM WE RELY FOR AN ADEQUATE MEDICAL SERVICE.
ART HONG.....