TNAG-0992-FCO40-1211-Policy-on-salaries-and-pensions-for-civil-service-in-Hong-Ko-1980 — Page 99

From The Minister of State

Douglas Hurd CBE MP

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Hkk 43011

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO.don SW1A 2AH

19 NOV 1980

DECK OFFICER INDEX

PA

Dear Mr.still

་

REGISTR November 1980 Action Taken

Awyalu

See (92

I am replying in Peter Blaker's absence abroad to your 74A)

two letters of 28 October on the current review of salaries and structure of the voluntary welfare services in Hong Kong.

No undertaking has ever been given that the review of staff structures in voluntary agencies providing social welfare services would be completed by 31 October. This deadline was set unilaterally by the Hong Kong Social Workers' General Union whose membership comprises no more than 10% of social workers in the voluntary sector.

However, the Hong Kong Government accept that where staff of voluntary agencies in receipt of Government subventions hold qualifications similar to those of their counterparts in Government service and do similar work, they should be remunerated on the same basis. But the voluntary agencies are not organised on the same lines as the Government's Social Welfare Department and their functions are differeng. It is impracticable to impose a Government department structure on so diverse a sector without very careful consideration. This is the purpose of the Steering Committee and Working Group set up in February this year for a review of the voluntary sector.

The Working Group recently completed its task of collecting and collating information on staff structures in welfare agencies and the Steering Committee met on 30 October to consider the report. It was agreed at the meeting that views should be sought from voluntary agencies affected by the Review before the Committee met again, later this month, to consider further action.

It is the intention of the Steering Committee to bring this exercise to a swift and satisfactory conclusion so that early recommendations may be submitted to the Hong Kong Government for consideration.

Raymond J Hill Esq

General Secretary

British Union of Social

Workers

5 Sydney Road, Haringey LONDON N8

Yourincer I Torylar stund