TNAG-0822-FCO40-1029-Policy-on-salaries-for-civil-servants-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 517

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M

Murray

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

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HONG KONG: MP'S LETTER: MR ROBERT PARRY MP

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

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2 FEB 1978

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Mr Robert Parry MP (Labour Liverpool, Scotland Exchange) has written to Lord Goronwy-Roberts enclosing a letter signed W by himself, Mr Frank Hooley MP and Mr Stan Newens MP.

2. The letter concerns the dispute between the Shorthand and Audio Typists' Association and the Government of Hong Kong and, in particular, the appointment of an independent arbitrator.

Flag CV- Lord Goronwy-Roberts, in an earlier letter, informed Mr Hooley

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that he had suggested to the Hong Kong Government that an independent arbitrator be appointed. Subsequently the Hong Kong Government rejected the idea since, in their view, it could prejudice discussions which they started on an informal basis to set up machinery for resolving disputes in the whole of the public service. Lord Goronwy-Roberts accepted the views of the Hong Kong Government because of the importance attached to the wider objective and informed Mr Hooley of this.

3. On 18 January Lord Goronwy-Roberts had a meeting with Mr Tom Pendry MP and Mrs Cheung and Miss So of the Association. He repeated his acceptance of the Hong Kong Government's arguments against the appointment of an arbitrator but undertook without commitment to do what he could to bring this dispute to

a satisfactory end.

4. I recommend that Lord Goronwy-Roberts repeat to Mr Parry his his views on the appointment of an arbitrator but that he makes clear that he will do what he can to resolve the dispute.

5. I submit a draft. The OLA concurs.

27 January 1978

cc: OLA

J

L.ß. Stevent

B Stewart

Hong Kong & General Dept

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