TNAG-0917-FCO40-1128-Policy-on-salaries-and-pensions-for-civil-servants-in-Hong-K-1979 — Page 20

RS 470

UNCLASSIFIED

ADMIN IN CONFIDENCE

FM HONG KONG 280952Z NOV 79

TO ROUTINE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1669 OF 28 NOVEMBER

HKK 430|l

RECEIVED

(54

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

PA

No

R FAR

1

STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS

OF SERVICE.

1. ON 23 OCTOBER, WE SENT YOU COPIES OF THE COMMISSION'S FIRST REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY' AND THE RELEVANT CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM. THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT IS THAT ON 27 NOVEMBER 1979, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISED AND THE GOVERNOR ORDERED THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE COMMISSION'S FIRST REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY SHOULD BE ACCEPTED, SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF THE

NECESSARY FUNDS BY FINANCE COMMITTEE.

2. A PRESS RELEASE THE SAME DAY ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE

COUNCIL HAD NOTED THAT OVER 300 REPRESENTATIONS ON THE REPORT HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM STAFF AND MANAGEMENT, AND THAT IT HAD ADVISED THAT THESE WHOULD BE REFERRED FORTHWITH TO THE COMMISSION. IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAD CONSIDERED

REPRESENTATIONS THAT THE NEW PAY SCALES SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE FROM 1 APRIL 1979, INSTEAD OF 1 OCTOBER 1979 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSION, BUT HAD CONCLUDED THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE SHOULD BE 1 OCTOBER. IN SO DOING, THE COUNCIL HAD NOTED THAT THE REVISED PAY SCALES RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSION WERE

DIFFERENT IN NATURE FROM OVERALL PAY INCREASED BASED ON COST

OF LIVING INCREASES OR ON TRENDS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE

COUNCIL ALSO NOTED THAT WHEN AN OVERALL PAY REVIEW FOR 1980-81 COMES TO BE CONSIDERED, THERE WAS NO INTENTION OF DEDUCTING FROM ANY SUCH ADJUSTMENT THE INCREASES EFFECTIVE FROM 1 OCTOBER

1979.

3. IT WAS ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE PROPOSALS WOULD BE PUT TO

FINANCE COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER, AND THAT IT WAS HOPED TO HAVE

PAYMENTS MADE BEFORE CHINESE NEW YEAR.

/4. INITIAL