29. The differences of opinion voiced in the community on the direction which further political reforms should take is a measure of the considerable public interest in these issues which is now being focussed on the forthcoming review of representative government. The issue attracting the greatest attention, particularly in the media, is whether an element of direct elections to the Legislative Council should be introduced, and, in particular, whether they should be introduced in 1988. Opinion on the issue is divided. The Hong Kong Government has not taken any view on the possible outcome of the 1987 Review. Its aim will be to seek the widest possible public response, so as to ensure that it can take full account of all shades of Hong Kong opinion in considering what changes, if any, are required as a result of the Review.
30. The publicity surrounding the work of the Basic Law Drafting Committee has stimulated public debate on the question of further political reform. The Basic Law will not come into force until 1 July 1997. Nevertheless, the importance of achieving compatibility between the structure of government, as it continues to evolve up to 1997, and the structure of the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government after 1997, is widely understood by the community.
THE CIVIL SERVICE
(a) Localisation
31. Although there has been no major change in the Hong Kong Government's localisation policy in the past two decades, the practice of giving suitable local candidates preference in appointment to recruitment ranks has continued to bear fruit as some of these officers have acquired experience and have been promoted through the ranks. In the senior management/professional grades, local officers now hold over 70 per cent of the 1,500 posts whilst in directorate (i.e. most senior) ranks, the proportion has reached 50 per cent of the 940 positions. The Hong Kong Government is confident that the continued applica- tion of the current policy will enable top posts to be filled by local officers in the years before 1997, in keeping with the terms of the Joint Declaration. As regards the Police Force, the overall objective is that the force should be predominantly local by the year 2000. The present ratio of overseas to local officers in the Inspectorate rank and above, is about 70:30 and steps are being taken to identify local officers for promotion and to provide training to develop their potential.
(b) New Pension Scheme
32. During the year extensive consultations were held with Hong Kong Civil Service Staff Associations on a new pension scheme for the civil service. Having regard to the fact that the future government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be responsible for pensions after 1997, details of the scheme were also discussed with the Chinese Government.
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