TNAG-2151-FCO40-3070-Trade-unions-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 4

20 December 1990

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Tony Clarke ESQ

Deputy General Secretary

The Union of Communication Workers

UCW House

Crescent Lane

London SW4 9RN

Fina

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VIOLATED

WE DO NOT ROREL

THEDR

&

کے دری مورچوں کام

IS NOT

➤

FOREIGN

Thank you for your letter of 9 November to the Secretary of state about the recent industrial dispute involving postal workers in Hong Kong. I have been asked to reply.

REQUEST AREDUCTION IN

The Postal Workers' demand for their weekly conditioned hours to be reduced from 40 to 44 is supported by the Postmaster General and has been conveyed to the Hong Kong Government's Standing Committee on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service. The Committee is currently conducting a review of the salary structure of all the non-directorate civil servants. This has been clearly explained to the Unions who have been urged to wait for the results of the overall review which are expected to be known by the end of the year.

YOU JUOGEST

We cannot agree with your claim that by warning that Article XVI of the Letters Patent and Civil Service Regulations may be invoked, the Hong Kong Government Has violating the International Labour Organisation convention 151, Articles 7 and 8. The Letters Patent provide the basic framework for the administration of the territory and Article XVI in particular allows the/ Governor (through the Secretary for the Civil Service), to establish and control the civil service. does not serve to deter industrial action.

organised by Unions. Civil/ Service Regulations are drawn up within this framework to ensure that services to the public are maintained. In the event of a disruption of service, the administration may we have a responsibility to invoke such regulations. In practice these regulations are rarely used.

Moreover, the Hong Kong Government set up the Standing Committee on Salaries and Conditions of Service to provide independent and impartial advice. It has also established a system of communication whereby civil servants may e

may either individually or through their unions, discuss with the administration matters of mutual concern. It is the

WINAHM

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