With the current debate raging over pay cuts and reviews for civil service salaries, perhaps another more palatable concept would be the introduction of an across-the-board, voluntary retirement scheme. This would be applicable to all government departments. And it would be unlike the previous scheme which was limited in nature. It would provide an opportunity to replace those who leave with contract personnel employed on pay and conditions of service more in line with the private sector. Also, it would go some way towards reducing the current unemployment levels experienced in the present, poor economic climate. Such a move would also provide the flexibility to downsize the civil service in areas where staff cuts were feasible. Legal arguments aside, to slash the salaries of 180,000 civil servants, as some people have suggested, would be a very short-sighted policy. The lives of perhaps upwards of 750,000 family members would be directly affected for the worse in a single stroke. This would hardly hasten the recovery of Hong Kong from its current economic woes. NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
