THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1993
1
PROVISION FOR RECOURSE TO COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY EXTENDED TO THREE STAFF COUNCILS
FOR
THE
THE
THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO EXTEND THE PROVISION RECOURSE TO A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY, CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ONLY ΤΟ SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL (SCSC) IN THEIR 1968 AGREEMENT WITH ADMINISTRATION, TO THE OTHER THREE CENTRAL CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
THEY INCLUDE THE STAFF SIDES OF THE MODEL SCALE 1 STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL, THE POLICE FORCE COUNCIL AND THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (THURSDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID THE DECISION WAS MADE IN RESPONSE ΤΟ THE STRONG REQUEST OF THE THREE COUNCILS.
"I AM GLAD THAT THIS STEP IS BEING TAKEN ΤΟ AUGMENT THE CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY AND AM SURE THE COUNCILS WILL RESPOND POSITIVELY, HE SAID.
"THE DECISION SHOULD BE WELCOMED BY CIVIL SERVANTS AS AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE CENTRAL CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE," MR WINGHAM ADDED.
THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY COULD BE SET UP FOR BACH OF THE THREE COUNCILS WOULD BE LARGELY MODELLED ON THE TERMS REACHED IN THE 1968 AGREEMENT.
UNDER THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES, A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY COULD NOT BE INVOKED.
FIRST,
THE MATTER IN DISPUTE, IN THE OPINION OF THE GOVERNOR, OR IS A MATTER OF SETTLED PUBLIC POLICY OR AFFECTS THE SECURITY OF HONG KONG. (1968 PROVISION)
IS TRIVIAL,
SECONDLY, MATTERS UNDER DISPUTE ARE PENSION AND RETIREMENT ALLOWANCES WHICH ARE GOVERNED BY ORDINANCE, GRANT OR REFUSAL OF PENSIONABLE STATUS, NUMBERS OR COMPLEMENTS OF STAFF, ACTUAL TIMES OF ATTENDANCE OF STAFF, DISCIPLINARY QUESTIONS AND MATTERS CONCERNING INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS. (1968 PROVISION)
THIRDLY, THE DISPUTE INVOLVES ANY PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE ISSUE WHICH HAS SERVICE-WIDE APPLICATION,
SUCH ISSUES INCLUDE ANNUAL PAY MEDICAL AND DENTAL BENEFITS, LEAVE AND CONDITION).
REVIEWS,
HOUSING BENEFITS ↑ PASSAGE ARRANGEMENTS (NEW
THE 1968 AGREEMENT WOULD, HOWEVER, BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THE SCSC TO DISCUSS AND REACH CONSENSUS WITH THE STAFF SIDES OF THE OTHER THREE CENTRAL CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS BEFORE SEEKING RECOURSE то A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY ON ANY SERVICE-WIDE MATTER WHICH FALLS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE AGREEMENT.
/FOURTHLY, WHILST