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Some staff associations have as their eventual goal collective bargaining on the pattern established in Britain or Australia, but I think they all recognise that this is for the future and that in practice it is necessary to move forward one step at a time. On this basis the recommendations contained
in Report No. 4 are broadly acceptable to staff, as well as to management, and this was confirmed by Harry Batchelor.
We, and staff associations generally, are therefore keen to make a start on implementing the recommendations in Report No. 4. The Civil Service Branch is now drawing up detailed proposals and we shall be discussing these with staff associations as we go along.
Paragraph 3 of Harry Hurst's minute stated that Batchelor was concerned about the lack of provisions in the Standing Commission's Report No. 4 for settlement of disputes. Whilst it is true that the Standing Commission stated in Chapter 7 of Report No. 4 that it did not see itself performing the role of "Arbitrator", "Adjudicator" or "Mediator" in disputes between staff and management, the Commission's role is such that in almost everything it does it is an arbiter between the views and interests of staff and the views and interests of management, all set in the context of overall community interests. Moreover its terms of reference allow it to review or examine any matters relating to pay, structure and conditions of service if such are referred to it by either the Staff Side or the Administration. In addition, any staff group which does not accept a particular recommendation made by the Standing Commission and accepted by Government may ask the Standing Commission to review its decision upon producing new evidence. Other than the Standing Commission, the 1968 Agreement provides machinery in the form of an independent Committee of Inquiry in the case of disputes arising within the Senior Civil Service Council.
On the point referred to in paragraph 4 of Harry Hurst's minute, it is true that I went to some lengths to explain to Harry Batchelor the consultative arrangements within the civil service and emphasised that these were, in my view, appropriate to Hong Kong's circumstances and constitutional position, and in
There is, of my experience were working fairly satisfactorily. course, room for improvement in the arrangements themselves : there are also areas of insensitive management within departments. However we are moving forward towards improved staff management and towards greater participation by staff in the running of the service, and I believe we have a broad measure of support both within the civil service and in the community at large for the way in which we are going about it.
I see from paragraph 7 of Harry Hurst's minute that Batchelor alleged that other international trade union bodies were
There are no signs trying to stir up trouble behind the scenes.
of that here at all, at least as regards the civil service, and I would welcome any information that may be available on this.
CONFIDENTIAL
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