XN000022-1972-03-29 — Page 70

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Wednesday, March 29, 1972

The Salaries Commission had done Hong Kong a good service in

creating comparatively painlessly a much more flexible salary structure

than the previous model scale system.

Judicious use of these new scales backed by thorough analysis

and surveys from the Pay Investigation Unit would enable Government to

respond more quickly to the changing patterns of recruitment in the market.

Recruitment had become much more difficult recently in some areas,

particularly the professional and disciplined groups, there our salaries "no

longer held any competitive edge," he said.

processes.

He said comment had been made on the length of our recruitment

"These processes are efficient and thorough, but I do agree that

they possibly are geared to more leisurely days when recruiting was

easier and when a far less complex Public Service had to be manned.

"I have therefore instructed the Establishment Secretary

to undertake a study of these procedures, with the object of reducing or

streamlining them where this can be done without detriment to the public

interest or loss of quality," he said.

The question on the age of retirement from the Public Service

which the Hon. Wilfred Wong raised, was under discussion with the Associations,

and he thought, it would be a breach of the spirit of the agreement on

the consultative machinery publicly to state his own views, he said.

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