XN000022-1976-01-16 — Page 2

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Friday, January 16, 1976

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY FOR CIVIL SERVICE

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr. Alan Scott,

said today (Friday) that the Air Traffic Control Association had

informed the Director of Civil Aviation, Mr. R. Downing, that the

Association intended within the next seven days to take work-to-

rule action in support of its request for improved pay and con-

ditions of service,

While regretting that the Association found it necessary

to make this announcement, Mr. Scott said that both he and the

Director, had most carefully examined several times the requests

and arguments put forward by the Association, and had been unable

to agree that a substantial enough case had been made for the

improvements requested. There had been regular meetings between

the Director and the Association representatives, and on

December 19 a very full reply on the various points had been sent

to the Association by the Director.

The Association's requests cover several points including:

pay, changes in the volume and complexity of work, and the risk of

losing their jobs because of annual medical and proficiency

examination requirements.

On pay, the Association claims that salaries should be

related to aircrew pay.

"No evidence has been put forward that any administration

accepts this, and the commercial factors and conditions of work

affecting aircrew are not comparable with those of Air Traffic

Control staff holding secure civil service appointments," Mr. Scott

said.

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There is clear evidence that Hong Kong Air

/Traffic......