XN000022-1991-01-25 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1991

SALARY COMMISSION HAD DONE A THOROUGH REVIEW: S FOR CS

TODAY

THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, (FRIDAY) REPUDIATED THE ACCUSATION MADE YESTERDAY BY THE HONG KONG CHINESE CIVIL SERVANTS' ASSOCIATION (HKCCSA) THAT THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WAS NOT IMPARTIAL.

DESCRIBING THE ACCUSATION AS UNFOUNDED, MR WIGGHAM SAID THE STANDING COMMISSION HAD DEVOTED AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT ΤΟ THE 1989 NON-DIRECTORATE SALARY STRUCTURE REVIEW OVER A PERIOD OF SOME 20 MONTHS.

"THE STANDING COMMISSION IS AN INDEPENDENT ADVISORY BODY APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND IS MADE UP OF RESPECTABLE INDIVIDUALS OF VARIOUS BACKGROUND AND WITH EXPERIENCE IN MANAGEMENT, MR WIGGHAM SAID.

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"IT IS DELIBERATELY SET UP IN THIS WAY TO AVOID THE SITUATION WHERE CIVIL SERVANTS COULD BE TAKING DECISIONS ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY," HE ADDED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE STANDING COMMISSION HAD DONE A VERY THOROUGH AND COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW INDEED. IT HAD THE BENEFIT OF THE VIEWS OF STAFF AND DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT, BEFORE FINALISING ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE REVIEW.

"IT RECEIVED OVER 700 REPRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE COMMISSION ALSO HAD MEETINGS WITH STAFF REPRESENTATIVES; AND WITH DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT FOR AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS AND FOR CLARIFICATION OF THE VARIOUS SUBMISSIONS.

"THE ADMINISTRATION IS FULLY SATISFIED THAT THE STANDING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BALANCED THE INTERESTS OF STAFF, DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND THE PUBLIC," MR WIGGHAM ADDED.

MR

WIGGHAM SAID IT WAS WRONG AND GROSSLY UNFAIR FOR HKCCSA ΤΟ SAY THAT STAFF GROUPS WHICH HAD MADE THE MOST NOISE HAD GAINED THE MOST OUT OF THE REVIEW.

"THE FACT IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE GRADES WHICH HAVE BENEFITTED HAVE REMAINED PATIENT AND CALM THROUGHOUT THE REVIEW, AND MANY OF THEM HAVE RECEIVED ABOVE-AVERAGE PAY IMPROVEMENTS, HE SAID.

THE HRCCSA ALSO DISTORTED THE FIGURES RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF CIVIL SERVANTS BENEFITTING FROM THE REVIEW, BY QUOTING RANKS INSTEAD OF THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF STAFF RECEIVING IMPROVEMENTS.

REVIEW,

MR WIGGHAM CLARIFIED THAT, AS EXPLAINED EARLIER, OUT OF A TOTAL OF 107,000 CIVIL SERVANTS COVERED BY THE FINAL STAGE OF THE SOME 97,000 OR 90 PER CENT, WILL RECEIVE PAY IMPROVEMENTS AS A OF THE STANDING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

RESULT

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