A
unique and responsible organisation
- Assurance from Staff Associations
In an interview with OffBeat, Mr Lee said the Senior Management appreciated the staff associations' concerns and feelings on the pay cut issue.
"We have explained the views of the Government on the pay cut to the staff side, and they agreed that every member of the community should chip in to help overcome the present adverse economic climate experienced by the Government and many organisations, large and small," Mr Lee said.
"The staff side has also taken on board the Senior Management's stance and advice that the Force, which has a unique responsibility to the community, should not take to the streets to vent their grievances.
DCP Management, Mr Lee Ming-kwai
"Whilst agreeing to the pay cut proposal, the staff side disputed the way in which the pay cut is being implemented. They fear that by enacting legislation to reduce salaries, the Government can in future resort to the same course of action to reduce or cut other benefits," Mr Lee said.
"The staff side has given assurance to the Commissioner that their members would not participate in street demonstrations to highlight their displeasure," he added.
"They consider police to be the ultimate line of defence in the territory and will not do anything to compromise their unique role in maintaining law and order."
Mr Lee said the management had no strong views on the staff side taking legal actions against the Government's move to legislate the pay cut.
The Chairman of Local Inspectors' Association, Mr Liu Kit-ming, told OffBeat their members agreed to the pay cut, but strongly opposed the Government's adoption of legislative means to implement the move.
"This means that other benefits for civil servants could be trimmed through such means," Mr Liu said.
"The LIA considers that being members of an organisation providing professional and quality service to the public, we will not initiate any protest action."
The Chairman of the Junior Police Officers' Association, Mr Lau Kam-wah, said: "Whilst we accept the pay cut, we strongly object the way in which it is done by the Government. However, members of the association will fight for their rights in a responsible manner and will not do anything which may affect the quality service provided to members of the public.
"Our major concern is that effecting the pay cut by legislation will have far reaching adverse effect as the Government will in future enact legislations to trim other benefits. It is a bad precedent," Mr Lau added.
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