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17
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
+THIS TYPE OF TRAINING WILL BE CONDUCIVE TO POSITIVE ATTITUDE BUILDING WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE, SO THAT CIVIL SERVANTS WOULD BE IN A BETTER FORM TO MEET THE FUTURE CHALLENGE, + HE SAID.
HE ALSO CALLED FOR A GREATER USE OF THE TALENTS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
HE SAID, +DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MORE TRAINED PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND THAT WE HAVE ACCUMULATED PLENTY OF LOCAL EXPERTISE ON VARIOUS TECHNICAL SUBJECTS, A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDIES AND PROJECTS PARTICULARLY IN THE ENGINEERING AND PLANNING FIELDS ARE STILL BEING COMMISSIONED TO OVERSEAS CONSULTANTS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DISCOMFORTING.
MR CHAN SUGGESTED THAT IN FUTURE, GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MORE CRITICAL OF PROPOSALS TO EMPLOY OVERSEAS CONSULTANTS AND TO ENSURE THAT EXPERTISE WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE IS CALLED UPON AND CONSULTED BEFOREHAND.
ON THE HOME PURCHASE ALLOWANCE SCHEME, HE SAID HE FULLY SUPPORTED THE SCHEME ALTHOUGH IT WAS VERY COSTLY, AS IT IS
HE SUGGESTED HIGHLY CONDUCIVE TO MAINTENANCE OF MORALE. THAT THIS SCHEME SHOULD GRADUALLY REPLACE THE ONE BASED ON PRIVATE TENANCY ALLOWANCE.
MR CHAN SAID EXPENDITURE IN DISTRICT COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE SPENT IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE MANNER.
+VERY OFTEN, VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS ORGANISE FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES SIMILAR TO THOSE ORGANISED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARDS, USING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENTAL HEADQUARTERS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF COMMUNITY BUILDING OR DISTRICT WIDE CAMPAIGNS. THIS MAY BE USEFUL IF THE ACTIVITIES CAN REALLY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER. BUT VERY OFTEN THEY DO NOT.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, THEREFORE, THAT DISTRICT PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES MUST BE CRITICALLY REVIEWED TO ENSURE THAT ORGANISERS DO NOT SPEND FUNDS SIMPLY FOR THE SAKE OF SPENDING THEM AND THAT QUALITY WILL NOT BE OVERLOOKED OR SACRIFICED FOR STATISTICS ON PARTICIPANTS, HE SAID.
MR CHAN STRONGLY ECHOED AND SUPPORTED THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S CALL ON THE PROPOSED REGIONAL COUNCIL WHICH WOULD ENSURE THAT THE RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND AMENITY SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT ARE PROVIDED IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.
+THERE HAS BEEN FAR TOO MUCH DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS AND OVERLAPPING OF RESPONSIBILITES AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL BETWEEN THESE TWO AGENCIES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
/HE SAID