CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1        Established in 1979, the main function of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service is to advise and make recommendations to the Chief Executive on the principles and practices governing pay, conditions of service and salary structure of non-directorate civil servants, other than judicial officers and disciplined services staff.

1.2        The Commission provides independent advice to the Chief Executive, after taking into full account relevant factors and views expressed by the parties concerned. The decision as to whether the Commission's advice should be accepted rests with Government. The Commission's terms of reference and membership list are at Appendices A and B respectively.

1.3        This is our eighteenth progress report and it gives an account of our work in 1998. Chapter 2 contains our views and recommendations on proposals submitted by the Administration during the year. These include (a) the possibility of merging the Traffic Assistant and Transport Inspector Grades; (b) the Common Terms of Appointment and Conditions of Service; (c) the standardisation of the rate of compensating stand-by duty by time off in lieu; and (d) the creation of a new rank of Chief Court Prosecutor in the Court Prosecutor Grade in the Department of Justice. It also provides a brief account of our informal meetings with major civil service staff associations. Chapter 3 covers the work of the Pay Trend Survey Committee. Chapter 4 provides an account of activities undertaken by the Commission in connection with the Civil Service Starting Salaries Review. Chapter 5 sets out our forecast of major activities for 1999. In all, we held a total of six formal meetings as well as eight informal meetings during the year.

1.4        We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Ir David A Morris, F Eng, JP whose appointment ended in June after eleven years of sterling service to the Commission. We welcome the appointment of Mr Yeung Ka-sing, JP to the Commission for the first time and the re-appointment of all other Members for another term up to 2000.

1.5        We also wish to thank the Secretary for the Civil Service and his staff for their assistance and co-operation. Our appreciation also goes to Mr Angus Miu, acting Secretary General up to 9 August 1998, Mr Paul Tang, Secretary General from 10 August 1998, and the staff of the Commission Secretariat (list at Appendix C) for their efficient and unfailing support.