WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1980,
FIRM POLICY TO ACHIEVE GREATER DECENTRALISATION IN
CIVIL SERVICE *****
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JACK CATER SAYS IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S FIRM POLICY TO ENCOURAGE AND TO ASSIST GREATER DEVOLUTION IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, NOT ONLY FROM THE CENTRE TO DEPARTMENTS, BUT ALSO WITHIN DEPARTMENTS FROM THEIR HEADQUARTERS TO THE REGIONAL LEVEL.
SPEAKING AT THE BUDGET DEBATE TODAY, SIR JACK SAID WHILE IT WAS NECESSARY TO INVOLVE MORE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY BY INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS IN DEVOLUTION, IT MUST IN ANY WAY LEAD TO A LESSENING OF OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.
FOR DEVOLUTION COULD ONLY MAKE SENSE IF THE CENTRE EFFECTIVELY MONITORED THE PERFORMANCE OF DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT WORK WAS CARRIED OUT EFFECTIVELY AND THAT PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES WERE ACHIEVED ON TIME.
HE SAID SOME MATTERS MUST CLEARLY CONTINUE TO BE DECIDED AT THE CENTRE- FOR EXAMPLE NEW LEGISLATION IMPORTANT QUESTIONS OF POLICY OR MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS. OTHER MATTERS NEED TO BE SUBJECT TO SOME DEGREE OF CONTROL FROM THE CENTRE IN ORDER TO ENSURE UNIFORMITY" FOR EXAMPLE CIVIL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS, PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND SO ON.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE CONCEPTS OF DEVOLUTION, FLEXIBILITY, DISCRETION AND MONITORING ARE NOWADAYS ESSENTIAL WORKING TOOLS FOR THE PROGRESSIVE ADMINISTRATOR, AND HIS COMMITTEE WOULD BE GIVING INCREASING ATTENTION TO THEIR IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH THE CIVIL SERVICE.
TURNING TO RECREATION AND SPORTS, HE ASSURED THAT ADEQUATE SITES HAD BEEN RESERVED BOTH IN THE URBAN AREAS AND IN THE NT NEW TOWNS FOR RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS SPORTS GROUNDS, INDOOR GAMES HALL AND FACILITIES FOR OTHER ACTIVE RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
+HOWEVER, IT MUST BE POINTED OUT THAT, WHILST WE ALL CAN READILY AGREE THAT NEW FACILITIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED, IT IS NECESSARY TOO TO ENSURE THAT OUR EXISTING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ARE BEING USED TO THE MAXIMUM, HE SAID NOTING THAT A WORKING PARTY ON THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT ON +MAXIMISATION OF THE USE OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATION+ UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR F.K. HU IS CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO THIS QUESTION.
SIR JACK ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE TASK OF THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED RECREATION AND CULTURE DIVISION IS TO ENSURE THAT GOVERNMENT'S OWN ACTIVITIES IN THESE TWO AREAS ARE EFFECTIVELY CO-ORDINATED, AND TO EXAMINE, THROUGH THE DRAWING UP OF THE PROGRAMME PLAN ON MUSIC AND THE PERFORMING ARTS, QUESTIONS OF DIRECTION, CO-ORDINATION, MANPOWER AND FINANCE, IN SOME DETAIL.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALREADY COMMITTED TO PROMOTING THE ARTS. NOT ONLY THROUGH THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS DIVISION OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE MUSIC OFFICE, BUT ALSO THROUGH ANNUAL SUBVENTIONS TO THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY AND THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL. CONSIDERATION IS ALSO CURRENTLY BEING GIVEN TO CONTINUING TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC.
/REFERRING TO .....