TNAG-0822-FCO40-1029-Policy-on-salaries-for-civil-servants-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 434

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CYPHER CAT A

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HONG KONG 021815Z

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TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 68% OF 2 JUNE 1978.

AKK 430

50,

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 02 JUN 1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Txten

FOR STEWART FROM ROWLANDS.

YOUR TELNO 428: SATA DISPUTE.

CRE

(48)

OF THE TWO LADIES WHO VISITED LONDON IN JANUARY MATILDA CHEUNG

HAS RESIGNED FROM THE SATA COMMITTEE. VIVIENE SO, THE CHAIRMAN,

IS RESIGNING FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE AT THE END OF JULY AND

EMIGRATING TO AUSTRALIA.

SINCE MY TELNO 551 OF 2 MAY 15 MORE SAT'S HAVE ACCEPTED REGRADING AS STENOGRAPHER OR TRANSFERRED TO OTHER GRADES, REDUCING

TO 94 THE NUMBER WHO HAVE NOT ACCEPTED REGRADING.

WE REMAIN IN NORMAL CONTACT WITH THE ASSOCIATION ON ROUTINE MATTERS AND THE POSITION HERE REMAINS THAT THE DISPUTE (IF INDEED

THAT IS THE RIGHT WORD) WOULD FIZZLE OUT IF ALLOWED TO DO SO.

BUT ACCEPT THAT IN LONDON THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MADE TO APPEAR IN AN UNFAVOURABLE LIGHT AND I HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING VERY CAREFULLY WHAT STEPS WE MIGHT TAKE WHICH WOULD NEET THE POINT IN PARA 7 OF YOUR LETTER OF 19 MAY WITHOUT

PUTTING US IN AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION HERE.

SINCE THE ISSUES AT STAKE HAVE CONSIDERABLE IMPLICATIONS FOR BOTH YOU AND US, I MUST ASK UNTIL THE END OF NEXT WEEK IN WHICH TO GIVE YOU A SUBSTANTIVE REPLY BY TEL.

MACLEHOSE

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