12
recruitment
exercises have led to the
successful
recruitment of 82 professional grade officers of whom only
13 are overseas officers. Another point I wish to make,
Sir, is that the entry requirement of the environmental
protection officer rank is either a first or second class
honours degree in a science or engineering subject from a
Hong Kong or British university or equivalent, plus three
years' relevant experience, but allowance is normally made
for the time required to obtain the professional
qualification. In the case of a master's degree, it is
equivalent to two years' experience; in the case of a
Ph.D, three years' experience.
MR. SOHMEN: Sir, if the Government is not willing to
recruit graduates with first degrees, then all these new
courses that are being planned within the various
institutions will perhaps not attract so many applicants
because they see no career prospects locally ? Could the
Secretary advise how he tries to combine the two factors
that he explained in his answer ?
SECRETARY FOR HE AL TH AND WELFARE:
Sir, it is a first
degree plus three years relevant experience at an
appropriate level of responsibility, so if a first degree
holder, after graduating from university, will work and
acquire experience at
appropriate level
responsibility, he
an
of
can then apply to become an
environmental protection officer.