CONFIDENTIAL
27. Though independent, the Tribunal could operate within guidelines determined by the Government and certain matters (eg. pensions, numbers or complements of staff, individual cases) could be excluded from the arbitration process (or even from consideration at central or departmental level).
The Tribunal might also be used to resolve any competing claims made by unions for representational rights on the councils. To establish the unions' confidence in the Tribunal, Government might consider assuring them that it would normally accept the Tribunal's awards in the sense that it would not recommend, eg. to the Finance Committee or to the Executive or Legislative Council, that the award be rejected.
28. The view was expressed to me by union officials that the Senior Civil Service Council was unrepresentative and could not be reorganised on the staff side to remedy this shortcoming even though the recent registration of the PACT group of unions, under the designation "The Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union", is acknowledged as a new factor. One possibility mentioned was that the existing SCSC should deal only with matters affecting senior grades with common interests. Point 31 on the Master Pay Scale, ie. the minimum for a Senior Executive Officer, was suggested as a possible cut-off point below which a new body should be created. A separate joint council should also be considered for the Govern- ment's industrial grade workers (Mod. Scale 1).
29. Professor Turner will doubtless be putting forward suggestions affecting relations in the Civil Service. Alternatively, present problems could be dealt with by setting up a Salaries Commission, which might be invited, inter alia, to make proposals for new consultative/negotiating/arbitration procedures. I have mentioned staff relations in the Civil Service mainly to put on record the disquiet expressed to me and my belief that a way must be sought of dealing with the sectional trade unions which are said to be a reflection of the dissatisfaction felt by many, particularly in the lower echelons of the Civil Service.
SOCIAL SECURITY
30. My contacts with trade union and employers' representatives, both separately and jointly, provided an opportunity to discuss the Green Consultative Paper "Help for those Least Able to Help Them- selves" and particularly the ideas it contains for a semi-voluntary Sickness, Injury and Death Benefit Scheme based on a low contribution rate - about 2% of earnings each from employees and employers, making 4% in all. The schene might also incorporate a housing loan facility after 5 years as a contributing member.
31. Though some employers had reservations, based clearly on the concept that Government should accept responsibility for social security payments from general revenue or that insurance companies might be able to provide a better alternative, the majority seemed
10
CONFIDENTIAL
/to be
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.