THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1982
COORDINATING MACHINERY TO OVERSEE MANAGEMENT PRODUCTIVITY ******
JOINT COORDINATING MACHINERY WILL BE SET UP IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL OVERSEE THOSE ASPECTS OF PRODUCTIVITY PARTICULARLY AFFECTING THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
THIS WILL REPORT TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR ROWLANDS SAID THAT, AS FROM APRIL 1, SOME 80 MANAGEMENT SERVICES STAFF PREVIOUSLY WORKING UNDER THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION BRANCH HAD JOINED THE FINANCE BRANCH, WORKING PRINCIPALLY ON +VALUE-FOR-MONEY+ STUDIES, INCLUDING ESTABLISHMENT REVIEWS.
FOR ITS PART, THERE IS MUCH THAT CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH CAN DO, AND IS DOING, TO HELP IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY, HE SAID.
+THE RIGHT RANK STRUCTURE, RECRUITMENT OF THE BEST PEOPLE, EFFECTIVE TRAINING, IMPROVED STAFF MANAGEMENT, BETTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, AND GOOD STAFF RELATIONS ALL PLAY THEIR PART.
MR ROWLANDS SAID THE DECISION TO SET UP THE JOINT COORDINATING MACHINERY WAS MADE BECAUSE THE INTERESTS OF FINANCE BRANCH AND CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH IN PRODUCTIVITY WERE OVERLAPPING, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE FINANCE BRANCH HAD ACQUIRED A MANAGEMENT SERVICES CAPABILITY.
RESPONDING TO COMMENTS MADE BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ON THE DEPARTMENTAL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEES, THE SECRETARY FOR CIVIL SERVICE SAID THE DEC'S OCCUPY A PIVOTAL POSITION IN OUR MACHINERY FOR REGULATING THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, AND IT IS VITAL THAT THEY SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE.+
MR ROWLANDS SAID BOTH HE AND THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY TOOK A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE WORK OF THE DEC'S AND BOTH HAD REPRESENTATIVES IN ATTENDANCE AS FULL MEMBERS AT ALL MEETINGS OF DEC'S.
+OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE UNDER INSTRUCTIONS TO BE CRITICAL IN EXAMINING DEPARTMENTAL PROPOSALS FOR NEW POSTS; CONSTRUCTIVE IN SUGGESTING ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS REDEPLOYMENT, REORGANISATION OF WORK AND SO FORTH: AND CONSERVATIVE IN ENDORSING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CREATION OF POSTS.+
HE SAID ON THE WHOLE. DEPARTMENTAL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEES WERE DISCHARGING THEIR DUTIES PROPERLY AND WITH A DUE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.
+1 AGREE WITH THOSE MEMBERS WHO SPOKE ON THIS SUBJECT EARLIER IN THE DEBATE THAT WE DO NEED TO REVIEW AND REFINE THE ASSOCIATED PROCEDURES. THIS WE ARE DOING, MR ROWLANDS SAID.
HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THERE WERE NO GROUNDS FOR FEARING THAT IN DEC'S THE GOVERNMENT HAD INVENTED ONE OF THOSE SCREEN MONSTERS WHICH OVERPOWERED ITS CREATOR.
EARLIËR, VA ROWLANDS