INTERNAL RELATIVITY
Shorthand-Audio Typists/Clerical Officers
Taking notation that the ranking criteria for the Shorthand-Audio Typist Grade consists of clerical duties such as dealing with files, handling of graded documents, arranging for typed stencils to be run off or for documents to be photo-copied, coupled with the fact that the required academic qualifications for both grades are similar, it is considered that there are some degree of comparabilities between the Shorthand-Audio Typist and Clerical Grades.
When the Shorthand-Audio Typist Grade was first created in 1965, the Hong Kong Government, taking account of the special requirements for shorthand/typing skills, offered for a career salary which was 5 points above that of a Clerk at entry and parallel to that of a Clerical Officer II in maximum.
In 1966, subsequent to revaluation, the maximum of Shorthand-Audio Typists' scale was upward extended by 1 point which was equivalent to the minimum of a Clerical Officer I. It truly reflected on the full recognition on the part of the Hong Kong Government, of the importance contributed by the Shorthand-Audio Typist service.
On recommendations from the 1971 Salaries Commission, a 'Master Pay Scale' was introduced. Clerical Officers II and III were combined into one rank and retitled as Clerical' Officer II which carried a salary scale of Points 5 to 17, whereas the salary scale of Shorthand-Audio Typist Grade was reduced from a 10-point scale to an 8-point one and fitted into Points 6 13, making the maximum 4 points behind that of a Clerical Officer II instead of 1 point above.
Consequent to the 1977 Restructuring, the entry salary of Shorthand-Audio Typists was extended downward by 1 point to Point 5 ($920) which is parallel with that of a Clerical Officer II, lower than those of a motor driver ($1,165); Depot Attendent ($1,025). Except Clerical Officers, members in other grades are of much lower academic qualifications and require no technical skills.
As a comparison with the private sector prior to the 1976 Restructuring had revealed that the entry standards of Shorthand- Audio Typists (or Stenographers) were higher than those of Government, the Civil Service required new entrants to the Grade to be numerate and literate at a higher entry standard. Therefore, in the 1976 Restructuring, the minimum academic qualifications of the Grade were amended from 5 general subjects to three specified subjects at higher level in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education which are equivalent to "Ordinary" level in the General Certificate Examination. The technical skills of shorthand and typing speeds were increased from 70 w.p.m./40 w.p.m. to 80 w.p.m./50 w.p.m. respectively. It can be observed that the academical and technical standards required of a new entrant have been raised, nevertheless, the minimum of the Grade's salary is extended downward by 1 point instead. This inevitably causes serious damage to the career salary for the Grade.
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