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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1978
SICK LEAVE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS
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THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. MARTIN ROWLANDS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REVIEW THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS IN REGARD TO THE GRANTING OF ADDITIONAL SICK LEAVE TO CIVIL SERVANTS SUFFERING FROM TUBERCULOSIS AND LEPROSY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. ROWLANDS SAID THE CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS WHICH SINGLE OUT TUBERCULOSIS AND LEPROSY FOR THE GRANTING OF FURTHER SICK LEAVE ON FULL AND HALF PAY DATED BACK TO 1956 AND 1965 RESPECTIVELY.
MR. ROWLANDS POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT THE ARGUMENTS FOR RESTRICTING SUCH LEAVE APPEAR NOW TO LACK A CERTAIN LOGIC.+ HE SAID HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO REVIEW THE WHOLE QUESTION.
MR. ROWLANDS ADDED THAT HE WOULD BEAR IN MIND DR. FANG'S SUGGESTIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OTHER CHRONIC DISEASES WHICH ALSO REQUIRE LONG PERIOD OF CONVALESCENCE.
+ONE THOUGHT WHICH OCCURS TO ME IS THAT RATHER THAN ATTEMPT TO SPECIFY PARTICULAR DISEASES WE SHOULD BE GUIDED MORE BY THE OPINION OF A MEDICAL BOARD AS TO WHETHER THE OFFICER IS LIKELY TO RETURN EVENTUALLY TO WORK, HE SAID.
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