Supplementary to Question No. 7 in the
Legislative Council on 26 June 1985
Mr. Stephen Cheong : Sir, I am gratified to hear that the
Secretary agrees that Washington Office has played a significant
role. Now he has also admitted that the offices are severely
stretched. May I know when it has occurred to the department and the
it
Washington Office that was being severely stretched ?
Secretary for Trade and Industry : Sir, the initial bid for
reinforcement was made last December when Counsellor (Washington)
asked for an additional post at the top end of the Master Pay Scale.
Mr. Stephen Cheong : Sir, in December, Administration was then
asked for one additional post. Was that it?
Secretary for Trade and Industry :
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Yes, Sir.
Mr. Stephen Cheong : Sir, I certainly understand that there is
a general principle of zero growth, but could the Secretary for
Trade and Industry be kind enough to explain how this particular
major principle was being applied to an issue that requested one
additional post which affected tremendously our international
trade prospects ?
Secretary for Trade and Industry: -Sir, although it was only one
post, it is a post at the top end of the Master Pay Scale and the
NAMS value involved could not be fitted into the approved NAMS
value for the Secretary for Administrative Services and Information's
Overseas Offices. Bearing in mind also that the request came towards
the end of the financial year, it was not possible to fit that
particularly request in. And in consultation with my colleague, we
have now agreed that savings elsewhere will be possible to enable
the post to be provided within the next two or three months.