2
In October 1977 the Association had petitioned the Governor in Council but the Secretary for the Civil Service had replied that no statutory right to do so existed. The Association therefore felt that the only means left open to them was to raise support for their case amongst MPs, trade unions and other bodies in the United Kingdom. Mrs Cheung added that the effect of decreasing the size of the personal secretary grade, by some 120, had resulted in the shorthand and audio typists promotion prospects decreasing by one-third. Miss So mentioned that, in addition to raising the entry qualifications for the grade, the Hong Kong Goverment had also raised the level for proficiency payments. Previously, the entry qualification had been 70 wpm in shorthand with the first proficiency payment at 80 wpm. Now 80 wpm was the standard for entry and the first proficiency payment was made at 110 wpm.
5. Mr Hegarty agreed that, on the basis of his knowledge of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Government had fully considered all the facts put to them by the Association but had some reservation as to whether all these facts he been forwarded to the Governor. He felt that the officers of SATA were not experienced in negotiation and that this could well have been to their disadvantage. His own discussions in Hong Kong suggested that the Pay Investigation Unit was not entirely happy with the results of their survey on pay and instanced that such a survey would normally vake 6 months; on this occasion they had had a 3 months deadline. The most important point that he wished to make, however, was that curing the long discussions, the Hong Kong Government made no concession or offer to the Association.
6.
Lord Goronwy-Roberts asked Mr Hegarty if he could specify which factors had not been given to the Governor but Mr Hegarty was unable to do so although he thought it likely that the minor points, on the reduction of the starting point on the salary scale and the need for higher qualifications, were unlikely to have been emphasised. Lord Garonwy Roberts accepted that on the face of it restructuring would Seem to have lowered the minimum wage while, at the same time, entry qualifications had been raised. He asked for the reasons bebind the reduction in the number of personal secretaries. Mr Hegarty explained that this had come about as a result of an O & M survey which recommended a reduction in che number of jobs qualifying for a personal pcretary. He explained that to his knowledge no consulta- tion had ken place with the relevant unions either on setting up this O&M survey or on the introduction of its findings.
He made
a further point that in his view there was some case for an increase in pay for shorthand and audio typists purely as compensation for their po
promotion prospects.
7. Mr Bloom explained that the National Unior of Public Employees, which he represented, had become involved in this case because of the belief that there had been a major injustice and that a number of valid complaints had been overlooked. Mr Pendry reminded Lord Goronwy-Roberts of his own general interest in Hong Kong and of the currer Parliamentary interest in labour relations in Hong Kong. He felt that it would be particularly unfortunate if this dispute were to be allowed to adversely affect the broader issue. He applauded
/the
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