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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1983
MR BOND REMINISCED THAT ON ARRIVAL HERE IN 1974, HE WAS INDELIBLY IMPRESSED WITH THE SPEED AND EFFICIENCY OF LOCAL OFFICERS, AND WITH THEIR ENTHUSIASM AND SELF-MOTIVATION FOR HARD WORK WHICH, HE ADDED, ARE VERY MUCH THE HALLMARKS OF HONG KONG.
DEALING AS HE DOES WITH PEOPLE OF CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE, MR BOND EMPHASISED THAT TRAINING IS DIFFERENT FROM TEACHING.
+GOOD TRAINING SHOULD PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND MEANS FOR TRAINEES TO DEVELOP THEMSELVES AND STIMULATE THEIR LATENT POTENTIAL WHILE AT THE SAME TIME INTRODUCING THE LATEST RELEVANT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES,+ HE SAID.
THE COURSES AND SEMINARS ALSO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OFFICERS IN DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS TO EXCHANGE MANAGEMENT IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES IN WHAT IS KNOWN IN THE TRADE AS +HIGHLY ACTIVE AND PARTICIPATIVE+ ENVIRONMENT, MR BOND ADDED.
ON THE AVERAGE, THE UNIT CONDUCTS 90 TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS FOR 1 800 GOVERNMENT OFFICERS A YEAR.
+WE SEEK TO PROVIDE TAILOR-MADE COURSES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PARTICIPANT'S REQUIREMENTS AND ASPIRATIONS, AS WELL AS CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY.
+THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE 'SUPERMARKET APPROACH' IN WHICH TRAINEES SELECT FROM WHATEVER COURSES ARE AVAILABLE, HE EXPLAINED.
MR BOND SAID THE AIM WAS THAT SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST 10 DAYS OF TRAINING EVERY FOUR YEAR,
IN ADDITION, THE UNIT HELPS DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS SET UP THEIR OWN SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAMMES WITH ACTIVE SUPPORT FROM THE CENTRE.
AT PRESENT, ABOUT 10 OFFICERS OF THE UNIT HAVE BEEN SECONDED TO VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH, TRANSPORT AND URBAN SERVICES.
+ONE MAJOR DIFFICULTY IN THE FIELD OF MANAGEMENT TRAINING ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD IS TO ENSURE THE MANAGERS WILL APPLY THEIR SKILLS LEARNED, HE SAID.
TO THIS END, THE UNIT CARRIES OUT REGULAR EVALUATION WORK TO TRACK THE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH PARTICIPANT AFTER COMPLETION OF HIS COURSE. TRAINING OFFICERS ALSO VISIT THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED TO ASSESS THE PRACTICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COURSE, AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING WHERE NECESSARY.
WHAT HAS KEPT HIS SPIRITS BUOYANT ALL THESE YEARS?
HIS UNHESITATING REPLY: +MANAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING HAVE THEIR BUILT-IN STIMULANTS. THE TECHNIQUES ARE EVER DEVELOPING AND CHANGING, AND DEALING WITH PEOPLE ALWAYS FASCINATES ME.+
AND WITH THAT REMARK, MR BOND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS IN THE PROFESSION, THIS TIME WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
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