- 7
-
training scholarships to local officers to enable them to acquire qualifications in particular disciplines. For example, since the early 1960s, over 70 local officers have undertaken programmes in town-planning; another 180 have obtained degrees in various surveying disciplines. The expansion of our tertiary education provision in recent years has also greatly improved the prospects of recruiting qualified local candidates to fill civil service
vacancies.
It would be unfair to deny these local officers career advancement by renewing contracts of overseas officers. While the Government recognises the contribution of contract officers, they have had the opportunity to apply for transfer to the permanent establishment, if they want a permanent career in the civil service. A contract has obvious attractions in particular, flexibility and gratuity. Those who have chosen to remain on contract and not to apply for permanent terms have presumably done so after careful personal deliberation and for their own good reasons.
The administration therefore intends to continue with its gradual and careful policy of localisation while safeguarding the quality of the administration and its ability to provide the public service Hong Kong needs. To put this in perspective only 97 overseas officers out of 1460 (that is only 1 in 15) who have applied for a fresh contract in the past 3 years have been unsuccessful.
/...8