TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1994
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EXCO ENDORSES REVISED PACKAGE FOR COLLEGE LECTURERS
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THE
THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A REVISED PACKAGE FOR LECTURING STAFF AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION STAFF'S VIEWS ON THE PROPOSED BRIDGING-OVER ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR TRANSFER то THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION.
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR DOMINIC S W WONG, ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) AFTER THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING THAT THE REVISED PACKAGE INCLUDED THE OPTION OF ABOLITION OF OFFICE TERMS, A SIGN-UP BONUS, A GOVERNMENT DOWNPAYMENT LOAN UNDER THE HOME PURCHASE SCHEME, THE SHORTENING OF THE SECONDMENT PERIOD TO. ONE YEAR, AND THE MAINTENANCE OF A SEPARATE SENIORITY LIST FOR LECTURING STAFF.
MR WONG SAID ABOLITION OF OFFICE TERMS WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE STAFF WHO OPTED TO REMAIN AS CIVIL SERVANTS BUT COULD NOT BE REDEPLOYED TO SUITABLE POSTS IN THE LECTURING OR OTHER EDUCATION GRADES.
"STAFF WHO ARE GRANTED ABOLITION OF OFFICE TERMS WILL BE PAID AN
ENHANCED LUMP SUM GRATUITY AND MONTHLY PENSION, AND AN EX-GRATIA PAYMENT EQUIVALENT TO SIX MONTHS' OF SUBSTANTIVE SALARY, MR WONG SAID.
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INTENTION
MR WONG EMPHASISED, HOWEVER, THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S WAS TO ENCOURAGE AS MANY SERVING LECTURERS AS POSSIBLE TO JOIN HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION. THIS WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE OF TEACHER EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.
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UPGRADING
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"TO ENCOURAGE STAFF TO JOIN THE INSTITUTE AT AN EARLY STAGE, WE ARE PREPARED TO GRANT A SIGN-UP BONUS, EQUIVALENT TO THREE MONTHS SUBSTANTIVE SALARY, TO THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE INSTITUTE OFFER OF APPOINTMENT BEFORE A PRESCRIBED DATE," HE EXPLAINED.
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MR WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED TO A STAFF REQUEST THAT LECTURERS WHO WERE ON POINTS 22 33 OF THE MASTER PAY SCALE WOULD REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR A GOVERNMENT DOWNPAYMENT LOAN AND THE HOME PURCHASE ALLOWANCE WHEN THEIR TURN IN THE GOVERNMENT QUEUE CAME.
HE SAID STAFF WOULD HAVE BETTER CAREER PROSPECTS ON JOINING THE INSTITUTE. THE MAXIMUM SALARIES OF THE VARIOUS RANKS IN THE INSTITUTE'S LECTURING GRADE WERE HIGHER THAN THOSE UNDER THE EXISTING LECTURING GRADE IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
IN FACT, OVER 70 PER CENT OF THE 272 SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES HAD BEEN OFFERED APPOINTMENT TO A RANK WITH A HIGHER MAXIMUM SALARY, AND ANOTHER 20 PER CENT HAD BEEN OFFERED ACTING APPOINTMENT IN A RANK WITH HIGHER MAXIMUM SALARY.
MR WONG SAID TO BALANCE THE NEED FOR CONTINUITY IN TEACHER EDUCATION AND STAFF'S PREFERENCE FOR EARLY REDEPLOYMENT, THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED TO SHORTEN THE SECONDMENT PERIOD FROM FIVE YEARS TO ONE YEAR GENERALLY.
HE SAID THE SECONDEES WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION LECTURING POSTS IN THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION AND ALSO VACANCIES IN THE INSPECTORATE AND LECTURING STREAMS IN THE DEPARTMENT.
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TO
EDUCATION
/"WE AGREE