GROUPING OF DEPARTMENTS
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deral
As we have noted before,the grouping of departments must reconcile the need to avoid within a group too great a range of responsibility with reducing the number of fine distinctions required in placing departments in groups. It might be argued that the present situation, where there is a grey area between Groups II and III, should be resolved by a re-arrangement with a new main Group II comprising the majority of all departments, a few at a higher level in Group I (as at present) and a few at a lower level in Group III. However, having considered this at some length we decided, against the background of the revised structure and substantial salary increases recommended, that the grouping of departments should remain unchanged.
New Territories Administration
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We should however like to record a comment regarding the New Territories Administration. In view of the size and complexity of this Group II department, there does appear to be a case for upgrading. We have decided against so recommending however until we know more about its future, particularly in relation to the new
towns and the administration of land.
Small semi-autonomous organisations
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There remains the question of the grading of small semi-autonomous organisations such as the Government Laboratory and the Government Land Transport Agency. We do not recommend their inclusion in the grouping arrangement, even as part of a new group.
We feel that there is no need to devise a set formula for ranking such organisations, particularly since the options for the head post are now limited to three, under the simplified rank structure. We envisage no set ranking, the choice depending upon an assessment of the weight of the job in question which can obviously vary widely. In other words it could be any of the first three points of the new scale.
THE RANKING OF INDIVIDUAL POSTS
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Amongst submissions received by the Committee were many proposals for individual upgradings of posts. In a number of cases organisational or complementing matters not of our concern were also involved. We comment below only where we recommend changes or where we wish to record observations for future reference. The new Directorate points are used throughout.
Secretary for Home Affairs
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Bearing in mind our aim to achieve broadbanding of ranks where practicable we now consider there is no need to retain the separate ranking of this post. We therefore recommend regrading to the D6 rank.
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