XN000022-1980-08-06 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1980

CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES

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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED ADJUSTMENTS TO CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

THE MAJORITY OF CIVIL SERVANTS WILL RECEIVE PAY ADJUSTMENTS RANGING FROM ABOUT 16 PER CENT TO 18 PER CENT, WHILE OFFICERS AT THE DIRECTORATE LEVEL WILL HAVE THE IR RANGE OF SALARIES ADJUSTED BY ABOUT NINE PER CENT TO JUST UNDER 14 PER CENT.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE FINDINGS OF A SURVEY OF PAY TRENDS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR DURING THE PREVIOUS FINANCIAL YEAR FORMED THE BASIS FOR DISCUSSION OF THE REVISION OF SCALES BETWEEN THE STAFF SIDE AND THE OFFICIAL SIDE OF THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL.

THE NEW SALARIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS ON THE MASTER PAY SCALE RANGE FROM $1 180 AT POINT ONE TO $15 230 AT POINT 51, COMPARED WITH THE EXISTING RANGE OF $1 000 TO $13 000.

MODEL SCALE I WORKERS WILL RECEIVE REVISED SALARIES RANGING FROM $1 375 TO $2 100, INSTEAD OF THE PRESENT $1 175 TO $1 800.

STAFF OF THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES WILL BE PAID FROM $2 835 TO $15 230 AS AGAINST THE PRESENT $2 440 TO $13 000 IN THE CASE OF OFFICERS, AND FROM $1 645 TO $4 730 AS AGAINST THE PRESENT $1 410 TO $4 050 IN THE CASE OF RANK AND FILE.

THE REVISED DIRECTORATE AND DIRECTORATE JUDICIAL/LEGAL GROUP PAY SCALES RANGE FROM $16 500 TO $36 000, COMPARED WITH THE EXISTING RANGE OF $14 500 TO $33 000.

THE REVISED SCALES ARE EFFECTIVE FROM APRIL 1 THIS YEAR AND THE NEW SALARIES WILL BE PAID IN SEPTEMBER.

THE ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL COST IS ABOUT $700 MILLION IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

TEN-FOLD INCREASE IN QUOTA FRAUD PENALTIES

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THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT SOME SHIPMENTS THIS YEAR AGAINST HONG KONG'S QUOTA HAVE BEEN FALSELY DECLARED TO BE OF HONG KONG ORIGIN, SAID THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, THE HON PETER TSAO TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, BEFORE IT WAS PASSED INTO LAW, HE SAID THAT ITS PURPOSE WAS TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PENALTY TO $500 000 AND TWO YEARS'

IMPRISONMENT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A MORE EFFECTIVE DETERRENT AGAINST POTENTIAL OFFENDERS.

/+THE LAW