THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1988
16
HK MUST MOVE AHEAD AS CHINA DEVELOPS
HONG KONG MUST CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOP AND UPGRADE ITS SKILLS, SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IF IT IS TO HAVE A SAY IN ITS OWN DESTINY, THE HON NELLIE FONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POLICY DEBATE TODAY (THURSDAY).
MRS FONG SAID THE CONTINUED PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG DEPENDED ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE TERRITORY COULD BEST COMPLEMENT CHINA IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS OPEN POLICY.
AS CHINA DEVELOPED, HONG KONG MUST ALSO MOVE AHEAD; AND THE GOVERNMENT MUST PLAY A ROLE IN THIS REGARD, SHE STRESSED.
"THERE MUST BE FAR-SIGHTEDNESS IN OUR GOVERNMENT то PROVIDE AND ENCOURAGE AN EFFECTIVE EDUCATION SYSTEM, TO ASSURE THE MOST APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE, AND TO ENCOURAGE TRADE AND INDUSTRY TO BE INNOVATIVE,' SHE SAID.
TO MEET THE GREATER CHALLENGE OF THE FUTURE, HONG KONG NEEDED LEADERSHIP THAT COULD INSPIRE, AND AN ADMINISTRATION THAT COULD PLAN AND BE CREATIVE.
SHE SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF FORMING A "THINK TANK" WHICH SHE SAW AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN HELPING TO GENERATE CREATIVE IDEAS TO ASSIST HONG KONG'S LEADERSHIP.
MRS FONG ALSO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK INTO WAYS OF IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
SHE SAID THAT TO KEEP A STRONG CIVIL SERVICE INTACT WAS HARD ENOUGH IN NORMAL TIMES, BUT TO DO SO IN A PERIOD OF TRANSITION REQUIRED MORE THOUGHT AND MORE ACTION.
TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT DEDICATED AND OUTSTANDING PEOPLE TO JOIN THE CIVIL SERVICE, AND TO RETAIN THEM, THE GOVERNMENT MUST RECOGNISE THEIR WORK AND REWARD THEIR EFFORTS.
SHE CRITICISED THE EXISTING EVALUATION AND PROMOTION SYSTEM IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WHEREBY SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT WAS GIVEN TO SUCH FACTORS AS SENIORITY AND WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON HAD MADE MISTAKES.
SYSTEMS IN WHICH THESE FACTORS PREVAILED TENDED MEDIOCRACY, AND MEDIOCRACY WAS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE IN A EFFICIENT AND DEMANDING AS HONG KONG, SHE SAID.
TO BREED PLACE AS
"IF WE EXPECT A LOT, WE MUST RECRUIT THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND WE MUST OFFER THEM A LOT, SHE SAID.
SHE EXPLAINED THAT A LOT DID NOT NECESSARILY MEAN A LOT OF MONEY; IT COULD MEAN A LOT OF SATISFACTION AND FULFILMENT.
/MRS FONG .******