TNAG-0234-FCO40-270-Labour-disputes-and-trade-unions-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 38

- 3-

ention:

(1)

(11)

The position of certain categories of staff requires special

Superscale Officers

As noted in Clause 7(3) of the Agreement, certain matters relating to superscale officers are not referable, being subject to separate decision. As regards salaries, special machinery exists in the form of the Standing Committee on Superscale Salaries whose terms of reference charge it to keep superscale salaries constantly under review and to mako recommendations to the Governor from time to time.

The Police Force

Members of the Police Force are not allowed by law to join any trade union and cannot, therefore, join any of the three main Staff Associations. Consideration is continuing to be given to the question of appropriate separate consultative machinery for the Police Force. In the meantime, the viewa of the Police Force will be sought through the Commissionor of Police on matters with which the Senior Civil Service Council will be concerned (which will be service-wide matters, affecting the Police Foros equally with other sections of the Public Service) and members of the Police Force will be bound by decisions in the fashion envisaged in the Agreement to the extent that such decisions affect the Police Force.

(iii) Contract Officers

(iv)

Contract officers (other than members of the Police Force on contract terms) may join their appropriate staff association. The position of these officers as regards the binding nature of decisions will be determined in the light of the provisions of particular contracts.

Labourers and Artisana

A separate circular will be issued in respect of Scale 1 staff.

Staff Associations Activities

7.

It is felt appropriate in this context to repeat some general remarks on the subject of staff associations activities.

8.

Government attaches considerable importance to these activities since the existence of stable, well-organised and fully representative staff associations not only promotes good staff relations but is essential to effective consultation on conditions of service.

9.

Whilst the efficiency of the officer in the performance of his public duties must be the prime consideration no officer should otherwise be deterred from accepting any office in a staff association. It is in the interests of both the Government and the Public Service that the staff associations should be represented by the most capable and responsible officers available, and the service of such officers in the staff associations is of benefit both to the Government and the Public Service.

/10.

95