TNAG-0785-FCO40-989-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H-A-Turn-1978 — Page 138

น.

Since Hong Kong Government wishes to appear both as a strong-willed public

authority and a moral leader in the employment field, the device of 'joint

consultation' as the lynchpin of staff relations has its attractions as

an appropriate compromise. Government policy is to grant its employees

"a voice in matters affecting their employment". According to a recent

official publication issued under the imprimatur of the Civil Service

Branch, which possesses central responsibility for staff relations:

civil servant is free to be a member of any association or trade union

which will admit him under its rules of membership. Civil servants are,

moreover, encouraged to belong to associations, for the existance. of

capable or responsible staff associations not only promotes good staff

relations, but is essential to effective consultation on condition of

service". (3)

"A

Staff Relations Policy

Formally, staff relations policy is based on the principle of joint

consultation-and not joint negotiation or collective bargaining with

its implication that the management or official side has entered into any

obligation to reach an agreement with the Staff Associations on substantive

terms or conditions of service.

-The Central Staff Consultative machinery was established in the year

following the 1966-7 disturbances by agreement between the government

and the three-main staff associations. (4)

(3) Hong Kong Government Publication 'Staff Relations in the Hong Kong

Civil Service'.1976

(4) These are: Association of Expatriate Civil Servants of Hong Kong,

Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants Association, and the Senior Non-- Expatriate Officer Association. Respective membership of these organisations in 1976 was approximately 1108, 4470 and 1589. Their organizations & activities will be discussed in more detail later.