TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1977
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REORGANISATION OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ******
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. BILL DORWARD, SAID TODAY THAT A SUBSTANTIAL REORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT WAS IMMINENT. A FULL ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE SHORTLY.
+THE REORGANISATION ALSO INVOLVES AN EXPANSION AT SENIOR LEVELS TO COPE WITH THE MOUNTING COMMITMENTS IN THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE PRESENT DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSIBILITIES,+ MR. DORWARD SAID.
+THESE INCLUDE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION, CONSUMER PROTECTION, TRADE CONTROLS AND CUSTOMS WORK.+
ONE REASON FOR THE EXPANSION IS THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF TIME SENIOR OFFICERS HAVE TO SPEND ABROAD. TO MEET THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY THIS, THE TWO PRESENT DEPUTY DIRECTORS WILL BECOME HEADS OF THEIR OWN DEPARTMENTS WITHIN A FEDERAL FRAMEWORK UNDER THE PRESENT DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. HIS POST WILL BE RETITLED DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS.
AN ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF AUTHORITY WILL BE INJECTED BY EACH OF THE NEW DEPARTMENT HEADS BEING GIVEN DEPUTIES WHO WILL PROVIDE CONTINUITY OF ADMINISTRATION AND SHARE THE BURDEN OF OVERSEAS TRAVEL.
AN IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCE OF THE IMPENDING REORGANISATION WILL BE THE RETURN TO HONG KONG FROM GENEVA IN SEPTEMBER OF MR. L.W.R. MILLS TO TAKE OVER ONE OF THE NEW DEPARTMENTS. HIS REPLACEMENT AS COUNSELLOR FÖR HONG KONG AFFAIRS IN GENEVA WILL BE MR. P.K.Y.` TSAO, AT PRESENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
+THIS CHANGE-OVER HAS BEEN PLANNED FOR SOME TIME AND FOLLOWS THE SEQUENCE OF PREVIOUS POSTINGS TO THIS KEY JOB IN GENEVA, MR. DORWARD SAID.
+ THE TIMING OF THE REORGANISATION AND A NATURAL BREAK IN MAJOR COMMITMENTS DURING THE SUMMER HOLIDAY PERIOD IN EUROPE HAS GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT NOW.
MR. MILLS WILL HAVE SERVED IN GENEVA FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS BY THE TIME HE RETURNS.
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