TNAG-0823-FCO40-1030-Policy-on-salaries-for-civil-servants-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 8

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5.

The terms of reference do not define any separate appeal or arbitration function, but I(b) and I(f) implicitly require the Commission to make recommendations on this and related matters.

6.

As I mentioned might happen in my last letter, from the 2nd January an Administrative Officer Staff Grade B, named Selwyn Alleyne, will be joining Civil Service Branch as a third Deputy, and I will thereafter concentrate on pay matters and on the Commission. We hope that it will start work in February so time is short!

Your sincerely,

A. Maced

(N.W.H. Macleod )

for Secretary for the Civil Service

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Miss Wills HKGD

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2 1 DECIES

INDEX

Preference

LA/HK/9

(104

HONG KONG: STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES

1. Please refer to your minute of 19 December below.

2"

ottolshed.

I commented on Mr Macleod's letter of 21 November and Mr Rowlands' related Legco speech on a minute of 19 December. I do not wish to modify these comments in the light of the Exco memorandum (XCC (78)95). The Commission is certainly a progressive and, in my opinion, a much needed step, but I hope its membership will include some person(s) with a trade union background.

3. I would add one further comment. The creation of the Standing Commission might necessitate a further look at the composition and functions of the Senior Civil Service Council unless, as may well be the intention (see I(f) of the terms of reference), individual staff associations are to be permitted direct access to the Commission. This is relevant to Government industrial grade workers, the so called Mod. Scale 1, who have always seemed to me to be inadequately represented by the SCSC. (The Exco paper refers throughout to "staff associations" and "grade associations." synonymous with "trade unions.").

I assume these terms are

4. I see from this file that Mr Peter Williams, an ex Labour Commissioner, is under consideration for the post of Secretary General to the Commission. I hope he accepts the appointment

HR Hurst

20 December 1978

Overseas Labour Adviser 273 4361

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