TNAG-0785-FCO40-989-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H-A-Turn-1978 — Page 183

amongst more militant unions to band together. This would undoubtedly

accelerate if the government removed obstacles to federation and widened

representation on the SCSC. Up to the present, it has been more content to

exploit the status quo of union fragmentation. Some reforms, such as the

establishment of a Junior Civil Service Council, have been mooted. These

hardly amount to anything more than cosmetic changes while the right of

unions to negotiate, central to the present controversy, is denied.

The right to bargain issue is shrouded in a barrage of rhetoric and

accusations from both sides. Unions argue the government is authoritatian in

its dealings with staff, while the government, for its part, accuses the

unions of being inmature in their attitudes and amateur in their submissions.

Both criticisms have a basis of truth. Overall, nore sympathy can be felt

with the union case because their failings in part emanate from government

intransigence and paternalism. Their criticisms of present staff relations

all have a basis of truth. It is not up to them to be any more objective than

that.

That unions openly challenge the basis and application of salary

grading, promotion and fringe benefit policies is seen by government officials

as somehow unfair. Yet the government determined these unilaterally and there

is little reason for unions to accept criteria they had no say in deciding,

Under existing arrangements, there is no ambit for resolving this conflict.

The official side philosophy sees conflict as anathema. Discussion by

delegated representatives on appropriate issues is acceptable but not overt

bartering over principles or conditions of service. The government appears to

view the present situation as preferable to enlarging union representation on

the SCSC and hoping this will diffuse at least some dissent. Given the lop-

sided nature of consultation machinery this choice may represent an accurate,

if short term, assessment. It is unlikely that union officials with a growing

sense of frustration and confrontation would act in a subdued manner at SCSC

meetings. Rather, they might see it as a public forum for extracting