XN000022-1973-08-02 — Page 2

Thursday, August 2, 1973

8 PER CENT PAY INCREASE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

The government announced today an 8 per cent pay rise for

some 60,000 of its staff paid on the Master Pay Scale and disciplined

scales, and other related scales. It will be back-dated to April 1 this

year.

The increase is granted in response to a pay claim submitted

by the three main staff associations in May this year, on the basis

of an increase of 7.9 per cent in the Modified Consumer Price Index

since April 1, 1972.

In addition to the 8 per cent increase, officers in the

Construction Class will get a 3 per cent increase, which will be payable

for the period April 1, 1972 to March 31, 1973. This 3 per cent increase

was approved for staff in other classes in the civil service earlier

this year.

The pay increases were approved by the Finance Committee of

the Legislative Council at its meeting yesterday (Wednesday).

A government spokesman explained that the increases were not

based on the reports of the Pay Investigation Unit and would be taken

into account in any subsequent pay reviews which may arise from Pay

Investigation Unit Reports.

Most officers will receive their new salaries in August and

the remainder in September. Arrears will be paid as soon as possible

thereafter.

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