FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1986
2
GLAD PUBLIC INTEREST CONSIDERED
*****
SIR DAVID
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (FRIWAY! THAT HE WAS PLEASED THAT CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE UNIONS HAD DECIDED NOT TO TAKE ANY INDUSTRIAL ACTION IN THEIR PURSUIT OF A HIGHER PAY INCREASE.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OPENING THE CONSUMER COUNCIL'> PRODUCT SAFETY EXHIBITION AT NEW TOWN PLAZA IN SHA TIN, SIR DAVIJ SAID THAT HE WAS GLAD THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST WAS CONSIDERED.
+1 AM VERY PLEASED THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL NOT BE INCONVENIENCED BY THIS DISPUTE ABOUT PAY THAT WE'RE STILL CONTINUO TO DISCUSS WITH THEM IN A SENSIBLE WAY, AND THAT THE PUBLIC OF HONG KONG ARE NOT INVOLVED, HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID HE WAS SURE THAT THOSE CONCERNED WOULD MAKE THE IR REPRESENTATIONS IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY BUT ONE WHICH DID NOT AFFECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
HE ADDED THAT THE IMPORTANT THING NOW WAS THAT LATER THIS YEAR THERE WOULD BE A PAY LEVEL SURVEY WHICH WOULD GO INTO THE QUESTION OF COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTORS AND SET THE LEVELS IN AN AUTHORITATIVE WAY.
+I THINK REALLY NOW WHAT WE MUST LOOK TO IS THE RESULT OF THAT PAY LEVEL SURVEY, HE NOTED.
ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAD TURNED DOWN THE UNIONS'S DEMANDS BECAUSE IT KNEW AT THE BEGINNING THAT CERTAIN UNIONS WERE AGAINST +CONFRONTATION+, SIR DAVID SAID BOTH SIDES HAD BEEN TALKING TO EACH OTHER FOR MANY WEEKS NOW, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN PUTTING OVER ITS CASE.
+THE UNIONS OF COURSE HAD BEEN MAKING THEIR CASE. BEEN NO QUESTION OF COLLUSION.+
SO THERE'S
SIR DAVID ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT, HAVING LISTENED TO THE VARIOUS ARGUMENTS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, MADE UP ITS MIND AT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY.
13