TNAG-0823-FCO40-1030-Policy-on-salaries-for-civil-servants-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 31

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98

GOVERNment SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

** OUR REF.: CP 1/15-C

HKK 430/1

21st November 1978.

來函檔號 YOUR REF.:

RACEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. Y

Dear Robin,

- 7 DEC19/8

DESK OFFICER INDEX

KY

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Action Ten

Civil Service Staff Disputes

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As you know, we have been considering for some

time how we might best introduce some kind of formal machinery for settling disputes with civil service staff associations, particularly disputes over the pay scales of individual grades. This category of disputes has been causing us particular concern, partly because we have found the structure inherited from the 1971 Salaries Commission a rather unsatisfactory basis upon which to deal with changes in relativities between grades, and partly because there has been an increasing tendency to resort to industrial action if a particular association does not get the answer it wants.

2.

We have concluded that we should not try to finalise our views in every detail, but that instead we should establish a standing body (the title has not yet been agreed) to look into these matters and to review salaries. This will have the advantages that the system introduced is more likely to have the support of staff (coming as it will from an independent, prestigious body which will consult staff associations) and that it should enable us to call a halt to the rather dangerous process of dealing with the increasing number of pay claims on an ad hoc basis, pending a comprehensive review by the new body.

3.

The decision in principle to appoint such a body was announced by Martin Rowlands in Legislative Council on 16th November, and I attach a copy of his speech for your information: paragraphs 12 - 19 are particularly relevant. You will note that we will be consulting the Staff Side and then the Governor in Council on the terms of reference and membership of the new body, so we are still very much in the formative stages.

R.J.T. McLaren, Esq.,

Hong Kong & General Department,

Foreign & Commonwealth Office,

London SW1A 2AH,

ENGLAND.

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