TNAG-0992-FCO40-1211-Policy-on-salaries-and-pensions-for-civil-service-in-Hong-Ko-1980 — Page 40

A

But Hel

cd,

Mr Williamson

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 430/1

Reference..MKK 430/1

RELEIVLD IN REGISTRY NO. 51

12 JAN 1981

DISPUTE OVER FRINGE BENEFITS FOR KEI

DISK OFFICER

INQEX

PA

CIVIL SERVANTS

REGISTRY

Action Taken

1. Mrs Anson Chan, chairwoman of th Government Officers, has announced that the ghts bomais

Mrs Thatcher and the UN Human ghts benefits for married female officers.

99

on of Senior Female

till complain to bout fringe

out

2. Chapter 8 of the Second Report on Civil Service Pay recommended that "as a matter of principle married female staff should have the same eligibility for fringe benefits as their male counterparts". Fringe benefits not previously enjoyed by these officers (around 15,000 in number) are set out in Annex A of ExCo Memo XCC(80)122. The Hong Kong Government opposes this because:

they

a)

b)

Why?

1h explain

c)

d)

3.

the husband and children of a female officer are not her dependents, as is the case with male officers;

female officers with husbands in the private sector may already get similar benefits from the husband's employer (there would thus be a problem of duplicating fringe benefits);

there are insufficient dental facilities and living quarters for these benefits to be extended to female officers;

existing practice is in line with that in the private sector.

HKG has therefore proposed to give married female officers the same fringe benefits as single female officers, i.e. their families, not being dependent, would not be eligible (except in exceptional circumstances). In addition, medical (not dental) benefits would be extended to the children of married female staff.

4. ExCo discussed this on 18 November. The Officers' Association wants a full explanation of why the report's recommendation was turned down. They have the backing of some of the press.

5. It is impossible to compare UK practice with that in Hong Kong as the circumstances are different. However, it will be hard to justify this to MPs in the UK should they take an interest in the matter.

18 December 1980

M.A. Searle

M A Searle

Hong Kong & General Department

My Homice In Cliff.

222/12

We

spone

about this.

J29.12

Mr. Willamon Pl.speak

I doubt that H.K, will have much of

a

This will

illiverat

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CODE 18-77

ст

1229/12

E stand

yet another xxxample of

practices of emplyers in Hwy kary.

بر

кику.

SS 8/78

CONFIDENTIAL

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