TNAG-1364-FCO40-1810-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1986 — Page 26

Question No. 9

The Hon Szeto Wah

Following the Government's second

adjustment of the Directorate Officers' salary this year, quite a number of civil service unions and subvented organization staff unions have urged for a

corresponding salary adjustment of 6.4% for non-directorate staff with effect from 1.8.1985, to make up for the amount due to civil servants in 1983. Will Government inform this Council what principles and procedures it will follow in consider ing this request and arriving at a decision?

REPLY BY THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF SECRETARY IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WEDNESDAY 13 NOVEMBER 1985

Sir,

The major consideration in determining civil

service pay is the principle of fair comparison with remuneration for comparable employment outside the

Government. This principle will apply in consider ing the recent request by certain non-directorate staff unions for a pay adjustment of 6.4%. The main argument for the request is that since 1981 salaries for non-directorate staff have lagged behind the private sector.

With regard to the procedure to be followed, the Secretary for the Civil Service has written to the

Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service seeking its assistance and advice

regarding the unions' request as the matter falls within the Standing Commission's terms of reference. When advice

is received from the Standing Commission, the Secretary

for the Civil Service will enter into further discussions

with the Staff Sides of the three central consultative

councils. The then conclusions reached will be submitted

to the Governor-in-Council.