CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
advice and assistance to departments to help them develop a systematic approach to training and development, and in implementing their training programmes.
To help departments take up more authority and responsibility as a result of the public sector reform, the centre organises an increasing number of courses on human resources management and financial management.
The China Studies Programme, which aims to provide officers with a better under- standing of various aspects of life and government in China, is being strengthened. More seminars and talks are being conducted for officers at various levels; and training videos and self-learning packages are developed for use by departments. Courses on China- related subjects and familiarisation visits to China are arranged to give officers first-hand experience of the country. Chinese-language training, which includes Putonghua and official Chinese writing, is being offered to a larger number of officers.
The programmes offered by the Senior Staff Course Centre play an important role in the training and development offered to senior public servants. The centre emphasises 'learning from doing'. Participants analyse real administrative and organisational problems, and make proposals for improvement.
Government Records Service
The Government Records Service is responsible for the management of government records. It undertakes two different but related programmes: the Records Management Office is responsible for a records management programme to handle current as well as inactive records, and the Public Records Office for an archives administration programme to look after the preservation and use of permanent records.
The appropriate management of records affects the efficiency of business in government. It is the responsibility of the Records Management Office to oversee and develop a comprehensive system to manage records effectively and efficiently, from their creation to their destruction, when all useful purposes have been served.
In May 1994, government branches and departments appointed their own departmental records managers to ensure that departmental records are properly managed and maintained in accordance with the guidelines and advice provided by the Government Records Service. A Records Management Strategy has been developed to establish a long-term direction for improving the quality of records services, controlling the growth of paper records, reducing the records stock, and improving the cost-effectiveness in records management.
The Public Records Office is one of the largest local sources of information for historical and other studies relating to Hong Kong. The public archives also help to foster the identity of the Hong Kong community through the safe-keeping of permanent records on its history and development.
Language
The official languages of Hong Kong are English and Chinese. The Official Languages Ordinance, enacted in 1974, provides that both languages possess equal status and enjoy equality of use for the purposes of communication between the government or any public officer and members of the public. Correspondence in Chinese from the public is replied to by government departments either in Chinese or in English accompanied by a Chinese version. Major reports and publications of public interest issued by the government are
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