TNAG-0785-FCO40-989-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H-A-Turn-1978 — Page 170

10.

internal relativities are strongly felt within the service.

Friction

between the potentially inconsistent wage fixing criteria of fair comparison

and internal relativities at least partly explains the growing organisation

and militancy of unions.

The PSD argues that up to now median rate fair comparisons have

tended not to disturb internal relativities. Union officials are ill at

ease with this explanation and hold to another viewpoint. Some have alleged

that the government, as a matter of expediency, selects the criteria that

are least likely to disturb the structure established in 1971. Professional

groups such as doctors have argued their salary is considerably lower than

that pertaining to the private sector and that this has led to high levels.

of turnover and staff shortages. The doctors have a strong prima facie

case to support their allegations. Even the PSD concedes that "fixed income"

tax returns amongst professionals in private practice make PIU surveys-highly

suspect for these groups.

Employment and Promotion

The 1971 salary restructuring was accompanied by a rationalisation of

employment and promotion policies. These changes had a widespread impact

on promotion prospects. As might be expected, the overwhelming majority of

associations interviewed felt promotion played a significant role in

membership interest in their union. The Civil Service Branch viewed the

service as being chronicly overstaffed in some departments, particularly in

lower grade posts. In the 1960's, when employment was growing rapidly, the

administration had pursued a policy of bargaining with department heads over

the creation of new posts. Several lower level positions would be offered

as an alternative to a higher grade post. The CSB discarded this policy

after 1971.

Further, the new salary structure tended to limit promotion to the

vertical scale of the immediate occupational group. Under the old monolithic

class structure, those seeking promotion were not necessarily competing