TNAG-0916-FCO40-1127-Policy-on-salaries-and-pensions-for-civil-servants-in-Hong-K-1979 — Page 145

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(a)

(b)

for only relatively few occupational classes has it been possible to find a reasonable sample of comparable work in the private sector;

in a number of cases differences in private sector pay methods make the basis for comparison difficult to agree.

In addition the application of private sector comparability to the occupational classes as presently constructed can lead to the disturbance of long standing internal relativities.

7.

In its deliberations on the principle of fair comparison the Commission has carefully studied the representations which it has received. These are both for and against the retention of the principle. Those for retaining the principle draw attention to its advantages and to the absence of an alternative principle which would meet the test of public acceptability referred to in sub-paragraph 5(c). Those against tend to refer to the inapplicability of the principle to their particular circumstances or to differences in private sector practices which make comparison with the civil service difficult, but generally stop short of proposing an alternative principle which could be applied to the civil service as a whole. Thus it appears to the Commission that many of those recommending the abandonment of the principle of fair comparison do so largely from dissatisfaction with the manner in which the principle is presently implemented rather than with the principle itself. For this reason the Commission would appreciate views on whether or not objections to the principle of fair comparison might be overcome by the introduction of an effective and acceptable method for linking civil service and private sector pay. In particular the Commission would welcome comments on the two methods referred to in paras. 8 to 10 and 11 to 13 below which it has already been asked to consider.

The "Core Grade" Method

8.

Under this arrangement a number of civil service jobs which could be fully and fairly compared with jobs in the private sector would first be identified. The grades for these jobs would become "core grades" to which all other civil service grades would be linked. The pay in the private sector for the jobs comparable with the "core grades" would then set the civil service pay for those grades and all related grades.

The advantages of the "core grade" method is :-

9.

(a)

it recognises the limited extent to which private sector comparisons can be made;

/(b) it