TNAG-0785-FCO40-989-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H-A-Turn-1978 — Page 178

18.

a development as almost inevitable.

There is much evidence to suggest that

this is occurring in spite of government attempts to rigidly adhere to a

formal policy of-joint consultation that precludes overt bargaining.

Joint Consultation: Formal Channels and Informal Conflict.

The formal channels of joint consultation operate, at best, in a

partial and sporadic manner, heavily slanted in the government's favour.

The SCSC is hamstrung because there is no genuine negotiation and little

consequent commitment on the part of either side. The government has

attempted to diffuse dissent by encouraging joint consultation at department

level. However, the CSB has only been able to exert a minimal influence on

department heads who decide whether consultation will be formal or informal,

whether unions will be represented, what issues are discussed, how far

discussions may proceed - and even whether consultation of any description

will be entertained at all!

22

Union officials frequently accuse department heads of being paternalistic,

trying to intimidate-union officials, members or council representatives

and/or confining discussion to trivial issues such as stationery, broken

kettles and use of lifts. Evidence suggests all these problems do occur.

Even CSB officials privately admit that 'bloody minded' department heads have

been a problem. In practice, the critical issues of salary grades, promotion

and employment cannot be meaningfully discussed at this level. The former

is precluded by the potential impact of salary grade changes on internal

Promotion and employment policies are decided centrally by the

relativities.

government and the raising of individual cases is prohibited.

Thus joint consultation appears to exist in name only in most departments.

At best, an exchange of ideas establishing che frontiers of conflict is achieved

in a few departments, but little else. The Education Department Joint

Consultation Council generally acknowledged as the most developed is

deadlocked over the government's attempt to transfer primary schools to private

22. Including discussions with officials in the Medical, Post Office,

Education and Housing Depts. and the General Grade Secretary.