XN000022-1976-11-11 — Page 14

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976

UNUSUAL POSITION OF EMPLOYEES IN CIVIL SERVICE

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THE NUMBER OF STAFF SIDE REPRESENTATIVES ON THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL COULD BE INCREASED WITHOUT MAKING IT UNWIELDY THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OPENING ADDRESS, MR. SCOTT SAID HE WOULD PARTICULARLY WELCOME PROPOSALS FROM STAFF ASSOCIATIONS WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO THE CENTRAL REPRESENTATION OF UNESTABLISHED (MODEL SCALE 1) STAFF WHO WERE NOT SO REPRESENTED AT PRESENT AND WHO THEMSELVES FORMED A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THIS, HE SAID, COULD EITHER BE DONE BY DEVELOPING THE EXISTING COUNCIL OR BY ESTABLISHING A SEPARATE COUNCIL.

HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT ANY SUCH CHANGES WOULD HAVE TO BE AGREED WITH THE SIGNATORIES OF THE 1968 AGREEMENT, WHICH LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL, AND THAT ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE ELECTION OF STAFF REPRESENTATIVES WOULD REQUIRE THE JOINT BACKING OF A REASONABLE PROPORTION OF ASSOCIATIONS.

+ IT IS NOT FOR MANAGEMENT TO URGE THE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS IN A PARTICULAR DIRECTION IN MATTERS LIKE THIS, BUT RATHER TO OFFER ENCOURAGEMENT AND ADVICE, HE ADDED.

REFERRING TO CRITISICMS THAT THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL PROVIDED ONLY FOR CONSULTATION AND NOT FOR NEGOTIATION, MR. SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS PROVISION UNDER THE 1968 AGREEMENT FOR THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY IF THERE WAS DISAGREEMENT OVER A MATTER OF SUBSTANCE IN THE COUNCIL, UNLESS IT INVOLVED A MATTER OF SETTLED PUBLIC POLICY.

+ IT IS A MATTER OF RECORD THAT SUCH A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY HAS ONLY ONCE BEEN ASKED FOR AND APPOINTED, AND THAT GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED ITS FINDING, HE SAID.

MR. SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT ARBITRATION MACHINERY, THOUGH WELL-ESTABLISHED IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, HAD NOT PROVED AN UNMITIGATED SUCCESS ELSEWHERE, +LARGELY BECAUSE ITS VERY EXISTENCE ENCOURAGES BOTH SIDES TO BY-PASS NORMAL PROCESSES, AND IT TENDS TO RESULT IN STATEMENTS OF EXTREME POSITIONS AND AUTOMATIC COMPROMISE ON ALL ISSUES, WHATEVER THE MERITS AND REALITY OF THE CASE.+

+1 HOPE THAT THE TIME WILL NEVER COME, IN THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE, AS IT HAS ELSEWHERE, THAT AN ADVERSARY PROCESS AUTOMATICALLY COMMENCES WHENEVER STAFF AND MANAGEMENT MEET,+ HE

SAID.