XN000022-1995-11-08 — Page 7

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Transcript of CS's media session

The following is the transcript of the Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan's media session after officiating at the ground breaking ceremony of the Hong Kong Institute of Education today (Wednesday):

Question: What is the progress of arrangements for informal get-togethers between senior officials and their Chinese counterparts?

Chief Secretary: We continue to have useful discussions with the Chinese side. Both sides are anxious to start off these get-togethers as soon as possible and we are aiming for the first get-together to be held before the end of this month.

Question: Yesterday, NCNA accused Albert Ho, the legislator of introducing the motion. They said that it was a threat.... the PWC proposal.....

Chief Secretary: I think the community's views about the PWC legal sub-group's proposals about the amended legislation and whether it is consistent with the Basic Law or not, whether it is consistent with the international covenant, those views are sufficiently well-known. In sum, the community is very concerned about the PWC legal sub-committee's proposals. I very much hope that the Chinese leaders will take these concern into account. I stress again that all the amendments that we have made to existing legislation is to ensure that we are fully consistent with the Bill of Right Ordinance, that we are consistent with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is of course fully consistent with the Basic Law and in our view, there is no need and indeed it is very undesirable because it undermines confidence in Hong Kong's legal system and Hong Kong's commitment to upholding human rights. for any of the old legislation to be brought back. I do say again, I hope very much that the Chinese will take into account the concern expressed by the Hong Kong community,

Question: What sort of pay increase civil servants should get next year?

Chief Secretary: As you know, our usual practice is to conduct a pay trend survey. Of course this survey is not yet done and it will take a while for it to be completed. When it is completed, in accordance with our usual practice, we will consider the pay trend results against the economic situation prevailing at the time. We will also take into account for example, inflation rate. We will take into account civil service morale. Our principle governing civil service pay is that as the largest single employer, the Government has a duty to ensure that civil servants are remunerated on a fair basis and regarded as fair both by the civil servants and by the public at large.

End/Wednesday, November 8, 1995