LCQ8: Staff employed on fixed-term contracts by UGC-funded institutions
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    Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council if it knows:

(a) the number of staff employed on fixed-term contracts (FTC) by each University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded institution in each of the past three years and, among them, the respective numbers of those who had been employed on fixed-term contracts for more than six years;

(b) among the serving FTC staff of each UGC-funded institution, the highest number of contract renewals granted (together with the number of years for which the relevant staff have been employed) and the longest duration of employment (together with the number of contract renewals
granted to the relevant staff);

(c) whether UGC-funded institutions have established a mechanism whereby FTC staff may be offered substantive appointment after they have been employed for a certain number of years or have been granted a certain number of contract renewals; if there are such mechanisms, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(d) whether UGC-funded institutions have set any limit on the proportion of FTC staff who may be offered substantive appointment; if so, of the proportion;

(e) whether UGC-funded institutions have set a ratio of substantive staff to FTC staff; if so, of the ratio; if not, the reasons for that; and

(f) whether UGC has formulated guidelines stipulating the ratio of substantive staff to FTC staff in UGC-funded institutions and that FTC staff may be offered substantive appointment after they have been employed for a certain number of years or they have been granted a certain number of contract renewals; if it has, of the details of the guidelines; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

(a) Based on information provided by the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded institutions, the number of staff employed on fixed-term contracts (FTC) by the institutions in each of the past three years and, among them, the respective numbers of those who had been employed for more than six years, are set out at Annex A.

(b) Based on information provided by the UGC-funded institutions, among the serving FTC staff of each institution, the highest number of contract renewals granted and the longest duration of employment, are set out at Annex B.

(c) According to information provided by the UGC-funded institutions, all institutions have established a mechanism whereby FTC staff may be offered substantive appointment after they have been employed for a certain number of years or have been granted a certain number of contract renewals (Note 1). In considering such applications, institutions normally take into account staff performance, their pay levels, manpower needs and financial situation of the institutions. 

(d) According to information provided by the institutions, except for the Lingnan University which has set out the percentage of substantiated staff can be up to 50% of all potentially eligible staff in the University (Note 2), the other UGC-funded institutions have not set any limit on the proportion of FTC staff who may be offered substantive appointment.

(e) According to information provided by the institutions, some UGC-funded institutions have set a ratio of substantive staff to FTC staff, and details are set out at Annex C. For those institutions which have not set any ratio, they will take into consideration the individual circumstances in deciding the appropriate appointment terms.

(f) Institutions are autonomous statutory bodies governed by their own legislation. The management of appointment-related matters (including selection and promotion of staff and determination of their remuneration packages) is within the autonomy of institutions. It is therefore not appropriate for the UGC to formulate any guidelines on appointment matters of institutions.

Note 1: This arrangement is not applicable to non-academic staff employed by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology since March 1999 due to the financial situation and developmental needs of the University.

Note 2: Potentially eligible staff refers to staff who have reached a specified salary point along their salary scale and have served the University for a specified period of time.

Ends/Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:55

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