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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Paul Tang, after attending a television programme this morning (June 8):
Reporter: Secretary, there are civil servants who said they don't trust the pay trend survey and they didn't accept it because they don't trust it. What is the implication of this?
Secretary for the Civil Service: I think as far as the methodology is concerned, it is agreed by the pay trend survey committee which comprises members from the staff sides. Basically, they agree on the methodology before starting the survey. Obviously, some of them have certain queries about the results. But I think the right way to go about to this is to see what the problem is then, and then see how that can be mitigated in the coming survey.
Reporter: They said there is a lack of transparency, even the people sitting in the committee did not get to hear the results. How does that happen?
Secretary for the Civil Service: I don't think so. I think there are certainly those members sitting on the committee, they actually know all the details of the survey. And in fact the survey results were endorsed by most members.
Reporter: So how do you plan to keep retaining staff when there is a problem of retention on civil servants now?
Secretary for the Civil Service: About the retention of civil servants, our wastage rate is still on the low side. But we are mindful of that, so we will continue to make sure that the terms and conditions of civil servants are attractive, so we can attract the right people to join government. So far, we think we are still able to attract right people. We got about 50 people qualified for every job we advertise. I think there is still keen competition for people to join the civil service.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, June 8, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:20
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