4.
•2
In our view, Hong Kong has fully compiled with both the spirit and principles of Convention 98. However, the measures that have been adopted were of necessity designed to be appropriate to Hong Kong's conditions and to have regard to liong Kong's' special constitutional position, and may therefore differ from those which are found in countries such as the United Kingdom. We would like to comment on the application of the relevant articles of Convention 98 to show how Hong Kong has compiled with them.
5.
In respect of article 1, civil servants in Hong Kong who re members of staff unions are not discriminated against in any way.
Indeed civil servants are free to join staff unions without any hindrance and active members are given time off from their official duties to participate in union effeirs.
6.
In the context of Article 2, all. civil service · staff unions (and there are now 143 of them) are completely independent of the management and of one another in their establishment, functioning and administration.
-7.
Article 3 concerns workers' right to organise. In this connection the following figures speak for themselves. The number of civil service staff unions in Hong Kong has increased from 68 in 1975 (when a deckration for Convention 98 to be applied to long Long without modification was deposited) to 143 by the end of 1980. This is clear evidence that the freedom of organisation among civil servants exists and is protected in Hong Kong.
8..
As regards Article 4, the Hong Kong Government has taken measures appropriate to liong Kong's conditions to promote and encourage the development of machinery for consultation and voluntary negotiation between civil service staff unions and the Administration. In 1968, the Government set up a senior Civil Service Council under an Agreement with the three main staff unions existing at the time. This Council has operated mainly as a consultative body but in many respects it also provides the machinery for voluntary negotiation. The Agreement (a copy of which is attached) has the following basic elements:-
(a) An undertaking by the Government not to make any considerable change in conditions of service which affects a substantial part of the Service as a whole, or of the members of one or more main Staff Associations, without prior consultation with the appropriate association(s).
(b) The creation of a Senior Civil Service
Council with the dual object of improving the efficiency of the Fublic Service and securing the well-being of those employed.
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