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MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1983
AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, THE COUNCIL WILL ADJOURN UNTIL OCTOBER 12 FOR THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING.
THE COUNCIL WILL RESUME ON OCTOBER 26, WHEN THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, WILL MOVE A MOTION TO THANK THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS ADDRESS.
A NUMBER OF UNOFFICIALS WILL SPEAK ON THE MOTION THAT DAY, AND ON THE FOLLOWING DAY IF NECESSARY,
OFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO REPLY TO THE POINTS RAISED BY THEIR COLLEAGUES ON NOVEMBER 9 AND ON THE FOLLOWING DAY IF NECESSARY.
SPEECHES BY THE UNOFFICIALS AND OFFICIALS WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ON RTHK RADIO ONE CHINESE SERVICE AND RADIO THREE ENGLISH SERVICE.
COMMISSION'S OVERTIME PROPOSALS ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE ******
THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE REPORT NO. 10 OF THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WHICH MAKES A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE PAYMENT OF OVERTIME AND RELATED ALLOWANCES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF THE NECESSARY FUNDS BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IT IS INTENDED TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN STAGES DURING THE 1984/85 FINANCIAL YEAR.
THE STANDING COMMISSION HAS ENDORSED THE BROAD PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE PAYMENT OF OVERTIME IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. THESE ARE THAT IT SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN ONLY WHEN UNAVOIDABLE, AND WHEN TIME OFF IN LIEU IS IMPRACTICABLE, AND SHOULD BE KEPT TO THE MINIMUM,
THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS, AS A NEW DEPARTURE, THAT ELIGIBILITY SHOULD HENCEFORTH BE DETERMINED BY REFERENCE TO WHOLE RANKS, RATHER THAN BY A SALARY CUT-OFF POINT, AND THAT NO STAFF IN MANAGEMENT GRADES SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE. IT ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT OVERTIME SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PAID AT A RATE BROADLY EQUIVALENT TO TIME-AND-A-HALF. IN RECOMMENDING THESE CHANGES, THE COMMISSION HAS HAD REGARD TO PRACTICE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
OTHER PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT INCLUDE:
* A NEW SPECIAL ALLOWANCE FOR THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES. THIS GROUP OF STAFF HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN INELIGIBLE FOR NORMAL OVERTIME ALLOWANCE, BUT THE COMMISSION RECOGNISES THAT THE DISCIPLINED STAFF MAY ON OCCASIONS HAVE TO UNDERTAKE ESSENTIAL EXTRA WORK OVER AND ABOVE WHAT MAY REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO FORM PART OF THEIR NORMAL DUTIES. THE NEW ALLOWANCE IS INTRODUCED TO COMPENSATE FOR SUCH DUTIES. ALL RANK AND FILE STAFF, AND JUNIOR OFFICERS, WILL BE ELIGIBLE PROVIDED THEY MEET THE STRICT CRITERIA WHICH WILL GOVERN PAYMENT OF THE ALLOWANCE;
PAYMENT