XN000022-1984-11-08 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1984

ON THE CALL FOR A REVIEW OF FRINGE BENEFITS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS AND THE REMARK ABOUT AN UNFAIR DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH BENEFITS WITHIN THE SERVICE, SIR PHILIP SAID THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF THE SERVICE HAD EVOLVED OVER MANY YEARS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF PAST SALARIES COMMISSIONS.

THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD BEEN SOUGHT AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL HAD BEEN INVITED TO ACCEPT THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S ADVICE.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN MORE RECENT YEARS, TWO INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONS, THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND THE STANDING COMMISSION ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, HAD BEEN ASKED TO ADVISE ON ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE PAY AND THE CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.

+ IF THE CIVIL SERVICE IS TO REMAIN A VIABLE ORGANISATION, ITS CONDITIONS OF SERVICE MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY COMPETITIVE TO MAINTAIN OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN STAFF AT ALL LEVELS OF A HIGH CALIBRE, WITHOUT WHICH THE EFFICIENCY AND STABILITY OF THE SERVICE WOULD BE JEOPARDISED.

THAT IN MY +THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS A GOOD EMPLOYER - VIEW, IS INDISPUTABLE - BUT I DO NOT CONSIDER THE RATES OF PAY OFFERED TO BE OVER-GENEROUS.

+NOR DO I THINK IT IS HELPFUL TO SINGLE OUT PARTICULAR FRINGE BENEFITS, SUCH AS HOUSING AND OVERSEAS EDUCATION ALLOWANCES, FOR COMPARISON WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR WITHOUT EXAMINING THE CONSIDERATIONS WHICH LED TO THESE PARTICULAR FRINGE BENEFITS BEING INTRODUCED AND WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE OVERALL REMUNERATION PACKAGE, HE SAID.

ON THE EXPATRIATE ELEMENT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, SIR PHILIP POINTED OUT THE NUMBER OF THESE OFFICERS AT OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR WAS A MERE 3 067 OR 1.8 PER CENT OUT OF A TOTAL STRENGTH OF 171 909.

BY COMPARISON, THE NUMBER OF EXPATRIATE OFFICERS AT APRIL 1, 1980 WAS 3 025 OR 2.3 PER CENT OUT OF A TOTAL STRENGTH OF 129 217.

EVEN IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE, WHERE THE 100 PER CENT LOCAL ISATION POLICY AT THE RECRUITMENT LEVEL DID NOT APPLY, LOCAL OFFICERS COMPRISED 57 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL STRENGTH OF 391 AS AT OCTOBER 1, 1984, COMPARED WITH 49 PER CENT AT APRIL 1, 1980.

AGAIN IN THE INSPECTORATE AND GAZETTED RANKS OF THE POLICE FORCE, WHERE THE 100 PER CENT LOCALISATION POLICY AT THE RECRUITMENT LEVEL ALSO DID NOT APPLY, LOCAL OFFICERS COMPRISED 62 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL STRENGTH OF 2 399 AT OCTOBER 1, 1984, COMPARED WITH 55 PER CENT AT APRIL 1, 1980.

/IN BRIEF,