26
EDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1986
TURNING TO IMMIGRATION SERVICES, SIR EDWARD SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN CONCERNED OF THE DELAYS EXPERIENCED BY TRAVELLERS AT SOME IMMIGRATION CONTROL POINTS.
HE SAID THAT THOSE HANDLING CROSS-BORDER MOVEMENTS HAD BEEN UNDER PARTICULAR PRESSURE IN RECENT YEARS.
IN ORDER TO SPEED UP CLEARANCE PROCEDURES, AS WELL AS STRENGTHEN CONTROL CAPACITY, A PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE COMPUTER SYSTEMS AT ALL IMMIGRATION CONTROL POINTS WOULD BEGIN IN MAY NEXT YEAR.
+ IT WILL BEGIN WITH THE MACAU FERRY TERMINAL, AND EXTEND TO THE HUNG HOM, LO WU, MAN KAM TO AND SHA TAU KOK CONTROL POINTS BY THE END OF 1987, HE ADDED.
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RETENTION OF COMPETENT CIVIL SERVANTS ESSENTIAL
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THE RETENTION IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF ABLE AND EXPERIENCED OFFICERS, UP TO AND BEYOND 1997, IS ESSENTIAL TO THE LONG-TERM STABILITY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE ADMINISTRATION, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHED THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO MAINTAINING CONTINUITY AND WILL PROVIDE EVERY ENCOURAGEMENT TO BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS OFFICERS TO CONTINUE THE IR CAREERS IN THE SERVICE OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.
REFERRING TO THE NEW PENSION SCHEME FOR CIVIL SERVANTS PROPOSED LAST YEAR, SIR EDWARD SAID WIDE RANGING DISCUSSIONS HAD BEEN HELD WITH STAFF SINCE ITS ANNOUNCEMENT.
HE SAID IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROVISIONS IN SECTION IV OF ANNEX I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE SAR GOVERNMENT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PENSIONS AFTER 1997.
+ IN CONSEQUENCE, THE NEW PENSION SCHEME HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND SUBSEQUENTLY IN EXPERT TALKS.
+1 AM CONFIDENT THAT AGREEMENT WILL BE REACHED ON THE SCHEME AND THAT STAFF WILL WELCOME THE NEW PROPOSALS, + SIR EDWARD SAID.
+ THE OBJECTIVE IS TO BRING THE NEW SCHEME INTO EFFECT FROM APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF FINANCE COMMITTEE,+ HE NOTED.
SIR EDWARD SAID THE DEMANDS ON THE GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY THE PUBLIC SERVICE, WERE INCREASING.
/-LEVERTHELESS, OUR