TNAG-0992-FCO40-1211-Policy-on-salaries-and-pensions-for-civil-service-in-Hong-Ko-1980 — Page 41

118A

PART OF Leakco QUESTIONS ANELVERS

17/12/80

Original at: Hkk oills

This Copy for:

Information only/Action on

Question No. 6

Reply by the, yon. fartin Rowlands, CBE, JP

Secretary for the Civil Service--to-question by

the Rev. the Hon. Joyce Bennett, 03, in LegCo on 17.12.1980

Question:

sir,

Will Government state the reasons for not accepting in full the recommendation of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service to grant married female civil servants the same eligibility for fringe benefits as their male counterparts?

There are two main reasons why the

NICK 43011

REEVED IN RAUSPY NO. 51 23 DEC 1980

1

Ka au!..

tion Taken

PA hment has felt

No MS 6

unable to accept in full the recommendations of the Standing

Commission as regards fringe benefits for married women officers

in the civil service.

2.

The first reason is that the Government considers it

undesirable for the civil service to move too far ahead of private

sector practice.

3.

The second reason is that the Government sees objection

to the taxpayer subsidising the private sector, as could happen

where the husband of a woman civil servant works for a private

employer.

4.

I should like to emphasize that, while the Government's

recent decision does not go as far as the Standing Commission

recommended, it nonetheless represents a substantial improvement in

the provision of fringe benefits for married women officers.

5.

Detailed rules of eligibility using the new criteria are

now being drawn up, and will I hope cover compassionate and other

exceptional cases.

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