TNAG-0991-FCO40-1210-Policy-on-salaries-and-pensions-for-civil-service-in-Hong-Ko-1980 — Page 25

Pensions

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We have again examined this subject and made comparisons with the private sector. Our conclusion is that there is not a great deal of difference in overall benefits between Government and the better private sector schemes. There is, however, greater flexibility in the private sector in choosing between investment of benefits to produce regular income like a Civil Service pension and taking a lump sum to meet the needs of (say) house purchase.

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We have in previous reports recommended an increase in the 25% commutation to lump sum option for the Civil Service pensioner, but we are advised that no such change will be possible. On the other hand we consider there may be a case for reviewing the multiplying factor of 12.5 used in the calculation and recommend that this be pursued. The benefits of any change would not of course be restricted to the Directorate.

First-class duty travel

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As part of the 6th Review we recommended that Heads of Department should travel first-class on duty. The reference used in our report to "officers in the category of Heads of Department or Posts of Equivalent Status in the Civil and Miscellaneous Lists" has apparently caused problems of interpretation and to date this recommendation has not been implemented. In view of these difficulties we now recommend that the provision of first-class travel should extend to all officers on the new rank of D4 whether or not they occupy posts as Head of Department.

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We have considered the question of first-class air travel for officers going on leave but in view of recent developments in the classification of seating arrangements (the introduction of three classes rather than two) we recommend no change until the situation clarifies.

Education allowances

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We recommend that the minimum age for entitlement to overseas education allowance be reduced from age 11 to age 9 to cover those cases where a child commences boarding school early.

Passages for local Directorate officers

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We recommend that consideration be given to granting, once every two years, some form of overseas travel entitlement for local Directorate officers. We recognise that the details of any such scheme will need to be considered very carefully. We have in mind providing for expenditure set within the limit of the cost of a return air fare to the United Kingdom.

Married women's conditions of service

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We received a submission suggesting that housing and other benefits should apply equally to married women officers as to other officers. Present practice is based on the assumption that the husband is responsible for his family requirements. This is of course generally the position although there are exceptions. This is part of a service-wide issue which we understand has been referred to the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service. We therefore refrain from making comments.

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