XN000022-1990-10-31 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1990

WHICH

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO

WERE OF ENSURE THAT CIVIL SERVICE BENEFITS, SOME UNDOUBTEDLY OUTDATED, WERE MODERNIZED ΤΟ KEEP UP WITH CHANGING ASPIRATIONS.

"

THE GOVERNMENT'S ADVISORY BODIES ON PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WOULD HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE HERE, SIR DAVID SAID.

PENSIONS,

SIR

GOVERNOR

IN

HIS

ON THE CONCERN OVER SECURITY OF CIVIL SERVANTS DAVID

HE MUST REPEAT THE POINT MADE BY SAID

THE ADDRESS THAT CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS WERE SECURE.

"THEY ARE BOTH A STATUTORY RIGHT AND A STATUTORY CHARGE ON GENERAL REVENUE OF HONG KONG WHICH INCLUDES THE FISCAL RESERVES.

THE

"THERE ARE ALSO FIRM COMMITMENTS TO THEIR PAYMENT IN BOTH JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW," HE SAID.

THE

THIS

THE ANY

DESPITE

AND RECOGNISING THE CONTINUING WORRIES OF WERE SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS SEEING IF THERE SERVICE, OTHER MEASURES WHICH IT COULD TAKE TO EASE STAFF CONCERNS.

"I HOPE IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT ANY CHANGES MUST BE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES," HE ADDED.

ON CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID: "WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO SEE A TOTALLY CONTENTED CIVIL SERVICE; NONE OF US CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH REPORTS OF DISAFFECTION AND INDUSTRIAL UNREST, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS GIVEN SUCH PUBLIC

EXPRESSION.

"BUT THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE SEEN IN PERSPECTIVE,

HE SAID.

ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF MANAGING A CIVIL SERVICE LIKE OURS SAID SIR DAVID, WAS ITS SIZE: THE GOVERNMENT WAS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN HONG KONG, WITH ALMOST 190,000 PEOPLE ON THE PAYROLL.

"IN MY VIEW WE SHOULD NOT BE TOO SURPRISED IF, IN SUCH A LARGE ORGANIZATION, THERE IS AT ANY ONE TIME ONE GROUP OR OTHER WITH A COMPLAINT OR A CONCERN WHICH THEY ARE PREPARED TO EXPRESS PUBLICLY.

"THIS IS PERHAPS ESPECIALLY UNDERSTANDABLE AT A TIME WHEN THEIR PAY IS UNDER REVIEW, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO CONCLUDE FROM THIS, THAT THE WHOLE OF THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE IS SEETHING WITH DISCONTENT.

"THE VAST MAJORITY, AS RECOGNIZED BY SOME MEMBERS, ARE STILL PUTTING IN A HARD AND HONEST DAY'S WORK.

"WE STILL HAVE AN EFFICIENT CIVIL SERVICE. INDEED, THIS IS OFTEN SEEN AS ONE OF HONG KONG'S ATTRACTIONS AS A PLACE TO INVEST AND DO BUSINESS, HE SAID.

/IN CASES

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