35 -
43
83.
It has been represented to us that the dutics performed by senior members of the Junior Clerical Service and by many members of the Senior Clerical and Accounting (Local) Service and the Sonior Clerical and Accounting Service are not exclusively concerned with clerical or accounting matters but cre of an executive or cdministrative nature. Wo recommend therefore the establishment of an executive grade similar to that in the Home Civil Service, to which entry should be either by promotion from the General Clerical Service or by direct recruitment from outside and that above this grade there should be a senior executive grade containing a number of scheduled posts carrying greater responsibilitios of an administrat- ivc naturc. Appointment to this latter grado would normally bo by soloction from the oxccutive grado with the reservation that appointmont from outside might be necessary if no officer with suitable qualifications was available for promotion from the executive grade. Direct recruitment to the oxecutive grade would be by competitive examination and the minimum qualification should be a University dogroo or a qualification accepted by the competent author- itics as its cquivalent. The competitive examination should be of a similar standard to those set by the Civil Service Commissioners in England for comparable grades of tho Civil Service. Wo have specified a two year period of probation for local officers directly appointed and recommend that before confirmation they should be required to pass a tost in Gonoral Orders and Colonial Regulations dealing with public business. In the case of non Chinese entrants wo suggest a three year period of probation and recommend that such officers should be required in addition to obtain the first two certificates in Cantonese before confirmation. In the case of officers to be promoted from the clerical grade, promotion should depend upon the passing of an exemin- ation designed not only to tost knowledge in Concral Orders and Colonial Regulations relating to public business, but also to tost intelligence and ability to take responsibility. Wo recommend that promotion to this grade should be entirely by monit and not dependent upon longth of service. We have accordingly fixed the initial starting point of the executive officer grade II at 4800 por amun at a poi t within the scale for clerical officers grado I. Some officers in the clerical grades may show promise before this stage; othors may dovolop later. We consider that both categories should have oqual chances of promotion. Officers drawing more than $800 per annum should on promotion be placed on the next increment in the executive grade scale above their clerical grade salary. We realise that some officers in the clerical grade may be capable of loyal and officient service of a routine nature but may never display the additional initiative and exccutivo ability required by the cxccutivo grado officer. For them and for those officers who decide to specialise as interpreters, stono- graphers or cashiers, 7o consider that we have made adequate provision within the special grado.
84.
We have divided the executive grade into two, with a promotion bar between $9600 per annum and $10080 per annum. Similarly we have provided for two grades of senior