XN000022-1979-11-15 — Page 6

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1979

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BECAUSE OF THE INTERLOCKING NATURE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS

ON PAY SCALES AND IN THE INTEREST OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AS A WHOLE THE STAFF SIDE OF THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL HAS RECOMMENDED THE REPORT BE FORWARDED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WITH A REQUEST THAT ALL MATTERS IN DISPUTE SHOULD BE REFERRED BACK TO THE STANDING COMMISSION FOR REVIEW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, MR. ROWLANDS SAID.

+WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE THERE IS WITHOUT DOUBT A LARGE BODY OR RESPONSIBLE OPINION WHICH DOES NOT SUPPORT THE ATTEMPTS BEING MADE BY SOME GROUPS OF STAFF TO FORCE THE GOVERNMENT TO MODIFY THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS IN THEIR FAVOUR, HE SAID

+THESE PRESSURES MUST BE RESISTED IF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO COMMAND THE RESPECT OF THE MODERATE MAJORITY AMONG ITS EMPLOYEES,+ HE ADDED.

MR. ROWLANDS SAID IT REMAINS THEREFORE THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO PUT THE STANDING COMMISSION'S FIRST REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR DECISION WITHOUT DELAY, SO AS NOT TO DEPRIVE STAFF OF THE SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS WHICH WILL RESULT IF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ACCEPTED.+

+MOREOVER, HE ADDED, THERE ARE MANY RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT WHICH WILL HELP RECRUITMENT, ASSIST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DEPARTMENTS, AND GENERALLY LEAD TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY.+

RATE OF VR RESETTLEMENT IS STILL LOW

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THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT HONG KONG STILL HAS OVER 61 000 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES DESPITE THE EFFORTS AT DIPLOMATIC LEVEL AND THE MANY BRIEFINGS AND REPRESENTATIONS GIVEN AND MADE LOCALLY AND ABROAD.

SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. DAVIES SAID HONG KONG SHALL CONTINUE TO URGE UPON THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES AND POTENTIAL RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES THE NEED TO INCREASE THE RATE OF RESETTLEMENT.

+HONG KONG IS GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP IT HAS RECEIVED, NOTABLY FROM THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, HE SAID.

BUT, HE ADDED, ITS TREATMENT OVERALL BY COUNTRIES OFFERING RESETTLEMENT PLACES HAS BEEN LESS GENEROUS THAN FOR OTHER PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM AS REGIONAL RESETTLEMENT FIGURES SHOW.

MR. DAVIES SAID THAT IF ONE TOOK THE BOAT REFUGEE POPULATION AT THE END OF 1978 AND ADDED TO IT ARRIVALS TO THE END OF OCTOBER 1979, HONG KONG HAD 30 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL, MALAYSIA 38 PER CENT AND INDONESIA 19 PER CENT.

/+BUT SO