XN000022-1978-11-16 — Page 5

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1978

NEW STANDING BODY TO REVIEW CIVIL SERVICE

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. MARTIN ROWLANDS, ANNOUNCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO SET UP WITHOUT DELAY A REVIEW BODY, OR SOME FORM OF COMMISSION, ON A STANDING BASIS TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON THE CLASS STRUCTURE AND SALARY SCALES OF THE WHOLE CIVIL SERVICE, EXCEPTING DIRECTORATE POSTS.

MR. ROWLANDS SAID THE NEW MACHINERY NEEDED TO BE SET UP QUICKLY, AND TO BE CONTINUOUSLY AVAILABLE. IT SHOULD PROVIDE CLEAR AND AGREED CHANNELS FOR THE STAFF SIDE TO PRESENT AND ARGUE THEIR VIEWS, HE SAID.

→ITS ADVICE SHOULD BE EXPERT AND IMPARTIAL, AND SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.+

MR. ROWLANDS SAID THE STAFF SIDE OF THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL WOULD BE CONSULTED SHORTLY ON THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE NEW STANDING BODY, ADDING + HOPE THAT IT WILL THEN BE POSSIBLE TO PUT FIRM PROPOSALS TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. +

HE BELIEVED THAT WITH GOODWILL ALL ROUND THE NEW STANDING BODY WOULD PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF KEEPING SALARY SCALES AND CLASS STRUCTURES UNDER REVIEW AND OF RECOMMENDING CHANGES WHENEVER THE NEED AROSE.

IN SETTING UP THIS NEW BODY, HE SAID, WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS IMPROVING STAFF RELATIONS WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE - FOR PRACTICALLY ALL MAJOR DISPUTES, AND CERTAINLY ALL DISPUTES INVOLVING INDUSTRIAL ACTION, HAD CONCERNED THOSE PAY AND STRUCTURE MATTERS WHICH IT WAS PROPOSED TO INCLUDE IN ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE.

+HOWEVER, IT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE SIZE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE ARE NOW SUCH THAT A THOROUGH REVIEW WILL NECESSARILY TAKE TIME.+

MR. ROWLANDS SAID THE PRESENT CLASS STRUCTURE AND SALARY SCALES WERE BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 1971 SALARIES COMMISSION. THESE HAD SERVED US WELL BUT INEVITABLY AS THE YEARS PASSED AND CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED THE NEED TO REVIEW THEM GREW STRONGER.

HE SAID AS DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG HAD POINTED OUT THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SETTLING PAY AND STRUCTURE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE WERE NO LONGER EFFECTIVE. +THEY MAY WELL HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE WHEN THE SERVICE WAS SMALLER AND LESS COMPLEX, WHEN STAFF ASSOCIATIONS WERE FEWER AND LESS ACTIVE, AND WHEN MANAGEMENT WAS STILL ABLE TO TAKE MOST DECISIONS WITH LITTLE OR NO CONSULTATION WITH STAFF, MR. ROWLANDS SAID.