TNAG-0992-FCO40-1211-Policy-on-salaries-and-pensions-for-civil-service-in-Hong-Ko-1980 — Page 43

Reyd. Joyce M. Bennett:

And one final question, does paragraph 4 of this answer imply

that women are once more being asked to be patient, and in the future the principle of real equal pay for equal work will be accepted?

Secretary for the Civil Service:

Sir, the Government has long ago accepted the principle of equal pay for equal work and we are here talking about fringe benefits, which the Government does not treat as a part of the pay package. But having said that, the answer to Miss Bennett is that this is certainly] not a final position and that as Hong Kong moves forward and community views change, the Government will certainly review this whole question.

Miss Dunn:

Sir, I must ask the Secretary for the Civil Service for

again.

clarification on his second reason! As a corollary to the second reason offered by the Secretary forthe Civil Service, does it not mean that the private sector in fact does subsidise

the Government in cases where the wives of male civil servants

work for private employers?

Secretary for the Civil

Service:

Sir, as one would expect, I have to answer "touché" to Miss Dunn

on that one. I think one way of looking at it in that case, is that yes, the answer to her question is that that does arise.

Miss Dunn:

Thank you.

I have a further question as well. Thank you for that answer. Does the Government accept as a general principle the t pay and benefits as a package should be based on the job and not the sex, nor the marital status of the person doing the

job ?

Secretary for the Civil Service:

Sir, we are trying very hard to move in that direction.

And as

many Members here are aware, kawava in the process of trying to formulate the rules to give effect to this new policy