THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER SCHEME
A Report to the Governor
24th January, 1969
On 24th January 1968 the Colonial
Secretary said in an Adjournment Debate in the Legislative Council that proposals would that day be made to the Finance Committee for a start to be made towards the setting up of a City District Officer system. On 24th January 1969 the tenth City District Officer was appointed.
2.
This paper reports progress in setting up this scheme and the work that has been done. It
also offers an assessment of the scheme's effectiveness and its problems.
PLANNING
3.
The key to the initial planning was seen to be the appointment of the senior staff who would be working in the scheme, and the first proposals to the Finance Committee were for the additional Staff Grade Administrative Officer posts. Postings were, of course, not easy but by 16 Apr. 1968 all the senior posts had been filled. There was little besides the officers and at one time four Staff Grade Officers were working in a single room with one telephone line.
4.
Planning took the form of the preparation of a Directive for the City District Officers and papers for the Establishment Sub-Committee and the Finance Committee setting down the staff and Other
Charges requirements. The Government machine was
seen at its best in this operation during which expertise in Establishment and Finance Branches, in particular, was readily made available in developing our ideas. Policy problems were aired at one of D.C.S.'s weekly staff meetings and several important points were there disposed of immediately. By 1 May 1968 it was possible
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