TNAG-0992-FCO40-1211-Policy-on-salaries-and-pensions-for-civil-service-in-Hong-Ko-1980 — Page 6

and understanding, this should allow the Staff Side to gain confidence in it. Nevertheless, the Administration recognises that there might be exceptional circumstances in which a confrontation occurred which was so prolonged as to materially harm the public interest. In this case it would be up to the Administration to act ad hoc, but in so doing it would be important to ensure that relativity and other aspects, on which the Commission would have views, we re not lost sight of.

Public Reaction

14 It is anticipated that the general public and the news media will welcome the recommended improvements to the consultative arrangements in the Civil Service, as disputes between Government and staff would most probably be reduced and disruption to services to the public as a result of industrial actions would be minimised. Both the public and the media have in the past advocated peaceful settlement of disputes in the Civil Service through consultation, Some members of the public may however reserve their judgement on the recommendations until they are put to the test in the next major staff management dispute affecting the public interest.

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Staff Reactions

15

The Staff Side of the Senior Civil Service Council, whose views have been sought, generally support the recommendations in the Report. In expressing their support, they have observed that the Report rather lacks details on the practical implementation of the recommendations. Hence the Staff Side comments, which are listed in the Annex, relate in the main to details and to the practical problems of implementation. Of particular note is the Staff Side comment on the Commission's recommen- dation to include, as far as possible, "all staff groups" on departmental consultative councils (paragraph 3.9(d) of the Report). As the Report does not clearly define "staff groups", the Staff Side feel that the applica - tion of this recommendation is likely to pose problems both to staff and management and suggest that careful consideration be given to the definition of "staff groups" before this recommendation is implemented. Also worthy of note is the Staff Side's observation on the Report's silence as to the relationship between the central and departmental consultative councils. They feel that there should be a proper and close relationship between these two tiers of consultative councils so that matters are referrable from one tier to the other. The Staff Side further express disappointment over the Commission's silence on the question of the need for some form of arbitration machinery: it is likely that they will press Government on this point.

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