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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1994
ARE
ON
PAY THE
FOUR, A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY IS JUSTIFIED ONLY IF THERE MAJOR POLICY ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED. THE LAST COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY CIVIL SERVICE PAY WAS TASKED TO REVIEW THE FINDINGS OF THE 1986 LEVEL SURVEY, THE FIRST EVER SUCH STUDY, AND THE METHODOLOGY FOR ANNUAL CIVIL SERVICE PAY ADJUSTMENT. THE PRESENT DISPUTE BEARS NO COMPARISON, IN TERMS OF SUBSTANCE AND SCALE, TO THE PROBLEMS LEADING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY IN 1988.
FINALLY, IT IS WISHFUL THINKING TO BELIEVE THAT THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF ANY COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY COULD BE CONFINED TO THE NARROW WORDING OF THIS MOTION. IF A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY WERE EVER TO BE APPOINTED, IT COULD HARDLY AVOID REVIEWING THE EXISTING METHODOLOGY FOR THE ANNUAL CIVIL PAY ADJUSTMENT WHICH HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF CONSTANT CRITICISM BY EMPLOYERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND TO WHICH A NUMBER OF MEMBERS HAVE REFERRED. AS A STARTING POINT, THE COMMITTEE WOULD HAVE TO ESTABLISH WHETHER THE ALLEGED "SHORTFALLS" IN THE 1990 AND 1991 PAY ADJUSTMENTS HAD RESULTED IN CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES LAGGING BEHIND THOSE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. A NUMBER OF MEMBERS HAVE SAID THIS EVENING THAT IN THEIR VIEW THAT CIVIL SERVICE PACKAGE IS ALREADY VERY ATTRACTIVE. I LEAVE IT TO HONOURABLE MEMBERS TO DRAW THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS BUT WOULD SUBMIT THAT AT THE LEAST ANY SUCH REVIEW WOULD CREATE CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. CLEARLY, THIS WOULD NOT BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
CONCLUSION
IN CONCLUSION THEN, THIS SEEMINGLY RATHER INNOCUOUS MOTION WOULD, IF PUT INTO PRACTICE, OPEN A VERITABLE PANDORA'S BOX. WE ALREADY HAVE WHAT IS BASICALLY A SOUND SYSTEM FOR DEALING WITH THE COMPLEX AND SENSITIVE SUBJECT OF CIVIL SERVICE PAY. WE MUST NOT FOOL OURSELVES INTO THINKING THAT WE CAN TINKER WITH ONE SMALL PART OF THAT SYSTEM IN ISOLATION. TO DO SO RUNS THE RISK OF REOPENING MANY VERY COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, IN THE PROCESS THREATENING THE STABILITY WHICH WE CURRENTLY ENJOY. IN OTHER WORDS TO QUOTE A WELL WORN BUT ACCURATE APHORISM - "IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT".
IN ANY CASE THERE IS SIMPLY NO JUSTIFICATION UNDER THE 1968 AGREEMENT TO HOLD A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY.
FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS, MADAM DEPUTY, THE EX-OFFICIO WILL OPPOSE THIS MOTION.
MEMBERS
0
ADMINISTRATION WITHHOLDS NO INFORMATION WHEN SEEKING FUND
TODAY
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID (WEDNESDAY) IT WAS THE ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY ΤΟ PUT FORWARD ALL RELEVANT FACTS WHEN SEEKING FUNDING FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
INTRODUCING THE GOVERNMENT MINUTE IN RESPONSE TO THE REPORT THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (PAC) DATED OCTOBER 1993 IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS CHAN SAID:
"THERE IS NO INTENTION WHATSOVER TO WITHHOLD DELIBERATELY."
OF
THE
INFORMATION
/SHE SAID