If the new arrangements for the Legislative Council are approved, the total maximum monthly payments available to a member will be around $68,000. This will increase the financial disparity between the membership of the different tiers of representative government, and may fuel demand for further increases from the district boards and Municipal Councils, to maintain the current relativity. This appears to be the only new factor to consider over making corresponding adjustments to the level of district board honoraria and Municipal Council allowances.
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Our view however is that the enhanced status and role of Legislative Council after the 1991 elections will need to be emphasised and therefore the whole principle of relativity needs to be reconsidered. The proposed new pay structure for Legislative Councillors recognizes the change in the Legislative Council's character.
In politically advanced
a
countries, such as the UK and USA, the nature of service on the legislature does not compare with that on local councils and other authorities and the question of relativity does not arise. For example, while Members of the House of Commons are provided with
salary and allowances for specific expenses, local council membership is based on the principle of voluntary public service to the community, although an allowance scheme exists to ensure that councillors do not suffer undue financial hardship as a result of carrying out their duties. With the Legislative Council's evolution to a more representative legislature, we should deploy this argument more readily so that we
do not become tied down to our previous commitments on relativity.
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However, the Municipal Councils enjoy full financial autonomy in determining their own level of allowances; the figures set by the Administration for both Legislative Councillors and district board members will be taken into account.
It is unlikely that Municipal Councillors would be satisfied by relating their allowances only to the honoraria available to district board members as this could be interpreted as lowering their status.
Once the Municipal Councils have resolved to increase the allowances for their members, it would be difficult to resist demands from the district boards to increase honoraria for their own members. The Administration will therefore need to emphasise to the Muncipal Councils that they should interpret the adjustment to the pay and allowances for Legislative Councillors in the light of the significant changes to that Council after the 1991 elections, and should therefore not take the adjusted level as a bench mark for increasing their own allowances.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.