TNAG-2050-FCO40-2920-Visits-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and--1990 — Page 69

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6.

In mid 1989, together with the directorate officers and equivalent ranks in other disciplined services, the jobs of two senior ranks in the officer grade were evaluated by the Hay Group of Consultants. The results indicated that the job contents and responsibilities of these two ranks were as high as, if not higher than, their comparable ranks in the other disciplined services.

However, on 6 February 1990 the Executive Council of Hong Kong accepted the recommendations of the Standing Committee that the salary scales of the two ranks should not be increased, meaning that the disparity in pay in the whole structure of Immigration Service is allowed to continue. I must put emphasis on the fact that the jobs of the lower spectrum of the officer grade in the Immigration Service are also comparable to their equivalent ranks in the other disciplined departments. We all feel aggrieved of the decision and reiterate that an urgent redress of the situation should be made.

7.

We believe that all disciplined services in Hong Kong face similar work pressure and disciplinary restraints. Although the roles of all disciplined departments vary, each and every department's contribution to the public as well as to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong is just the same and just as important. If pay disparity is allowed

is allowed to exist among the disciplined departments, it could destroy the united and harmonious atmosphere among the Disciplined Services which is absolutely essential in the maintenance of the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong in the run up to 1997 and beyond.

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