X
X
Capl
5
Cap/2/
نه
7%
Koral
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5
quarter of government production will be for purchase at assisted prices for means-tested applicants or tenants of rented Government flats. The aim is home- owning for middle and lower middle incomes, and has proved immensely popular.
(d) The central directorate of government has been recast in response to expanding and changing needs. In addition to changes in the secretariat, the Public Works Department has been split up, and the Kowloon Canton Railway has been hived off as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hong Kong Government. The general tendency has been to rationalise lines of responsibility, and reduce overloading of secretaries with diverse portfolios. This process may well need to be taken further.
e) A great deal has been done in the last two years to improve and rationalise conditions in the Public Service. The process has been pushed forward in 1981 under the guidance of the independent Commission on Salaries and Conditions of Service.
f) A lot of effort has been put into Government plans to localise the focus of administration by the introduction of District Boards and Management Committees, and with some success. The calibre of local membership of the Boards has proved high and results are emerging. The first elections for the elected elements of the Boards are due in early March.
(g) Following the satisfactory build-up of secondary education a thorough review has been undertaken of technical and tertiary education. It will probably result in decisions to provide a second Polytechnic, more and larger technical institutes, and such expansion of the vocational faculties of our two. universities as can be achieved without affecting quality.
(h) Meanwhile we lack both local professionals and space in local institutions to train more. As a stop- gap measure the Government is sending 150 civil servants to United Kingdom institutions in 1981/82 and 280 in 1982-83.
Relations with China
13.
Sino-British relations over Hong Kong have remained good, as have relations between this Government and
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