THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1985
7
WOMEN CIVIL SERVANTS 'MORE SENSITIVE'
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THE SUGGESTION THAT WOMEN CIVIL SERVANTS HAD THE EDGE OVER THE IR MALE COLLEAGUES BECAUSE OF THEIR GREATER SENSITIVITY, WAS MADE TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR PETER TSAO.
+WE MEN ARE NOT EXACTLY INSENSITIVE. IT IS JUST THAT WOMEN HAVE REFINED SENSITIVITY ALMOST INTO A SIXTH SENSE.
+MANY A TIME I HAVE FOUND THAT A PROPOSITION THAT HAS SEEMINGLY BEEN EXAMINED FROM ALL ANGLES, AND FAIRLY EXHAUSTIVELY ASSESSED, CAN YIELD UP AN UNEXPECTED FACET TO THE MORE DISCERNING EYE OF A FELLOW OFFICER WHO HAPPENS, IN NEARLY ALL CASES, TO BE A WOMAN.
+IT WILL INVARIABLY BE AN EXTREMELY SUBTLE POINT THAT MAY NOT SWAY THE DECISION ALREADY REACHED AND IN FACT MAY NOT AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF A COURSE OF ACTION AT ALL - BUT IT NEVERTHELESS WAS THERE AND WAS ONLY VISIBLE TO HER, MR TSAO SAID.
MR TSAO, SPEAKING PERSONALLY AT A MEETING OF THE ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG EAST, SAID HE HAD TO ADMIT IT WAS EASIER TO LIVE WITH THE MORE ATTRACTIVE IMAGE OF THE SO-CALLED TYPICAL GOVERNMENT SERVANT NOWADAYS.
+I FIND MYSELF SURROUNDED BY COLLEAGUES IN THE ADMINISTRATION WHO, SHALL I SAY, HAVE GREATLY ENHANCED MY WORKING ENVIRONMENT,
+BUT FOR FEAR OF BEING ACCUSED OF SUCH REACTIONARY MALE CHAUVINIST TENDENCIES AS SEXUAL STEREOTYPING, LET ME ADD THAT I AM BY NO MEANS MISLED BY APPEARANCES. I RECOGNISE THAT UNDER THE GLAMOROUS LOOK AND THE DECEPTIVELY SOFT EXTERIOR DWELLS A HEART OF STEEL AND A WILL OF IRON.
+THESE WOMEN WHO NOW SHARE THE CORRIDORS OF POWER ARE STRIDING IT WITH AN UNMISTAKABLE SENSE OF PURPOSE. THEY KNOW, AS WE ALL DO, THAT THEY HAVE ARRIVED THERE NOT BECAUSE OF FEMININE CHARM BUT BECAUSE OF THE IR SKILL AND INTELLECT, HE SAID.
TURNING TO A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM FACING ALL CIVIL SERVANTS, MALE AND FEMALE, OLD AND YOUNG, MR TSAO SAID THEY HAD ENTERED UPON A NEW AGE, AND ALMOST CERTAINLY UPON THE GREATEST CHALLENGE THE ADMINISTRATION HAD EVER FACED.
+WE ARE LIVING IN THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO 1997, WHEN HONG KONG IS TO BECOME AN SAR WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY.
+ THE IRONY IS THAT THE VERY FOUNDATION ON WHICH HONG KONG HAS BEEN ADMINISTERED IN THE PAST IS ONE WHICH WILL SPELL THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM WE MUST DEVELOP FOR THE FUTURE.
/+YEARS AGO,