11
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1989
"NEVERTHELESS, WHILE CURBING AND CONTROLLING THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE, WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS ADEQUATELY STAFFED TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR ANY NEW OR IMPROVED SERVICES THAT MAY BE APPROVED, ' HE SAID.
MR JACOBS SAID THE VAST MAJORITY OF CIVIL SERVANTS HAD CONTINUED TO CARRY OUT THEIR FULL DUTIES LOYALLY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY.
LIKE THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, SOME WERE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE FUTURE.
"BUT THERE ARE NO SIGNS THAT THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE HAS IN ANY WAY BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED," HE SAID.
ON THE EXISTING CIVIL SERVICE SALARY STRUCTURE, MR JACOBS SAID THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE HAD BEEN INVITED TO CARRY OUT AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THAT STRUCTURE.
REFERRING TO A SUGGESTION THAT PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS IN THE SERVICE BE GIVEN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO RISE TO POLICY MAKING
LEVELS, MR JACOBS SAID SUCH OPPORTUNITIES ALREADY EXISTED.
MR JACOBS ALSO REFERRED ΤΟ THE FOLLOWING ISSUES THAT WIRE RAISED IN THE DEBATE:
* STATUTORY CORPORATIONS: ON CONCERN EXPRESSED BY SOME MEMBERS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S MONITORING OF STATUTORY CORPORATIONS, MR JACOBS SAID AT PRESENT THERE WERE NO FORMAL ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE FOR AGREEING THE STRATEGIC ISSUES AND FRAMEWORK OF OBJECTIVES WITHIN WHICH EACH CORPORATION OR STATUTORY BODY SHOULD OPERATE.
IN
HOWEVER, MR JACOBS STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNOR DID NORMALLY HAVE SPECIFIC POWERS OF DIRECTION WHICH WERE INTENDED FOR USE ONLY EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES.
"EACH ORGANISATION, HOWEVER, OPERATES WITHIN OF ITS PARENT ORDINANCE," HE SAID.
THE REQUIREMENTS
NOTING THAT SOME TIME HAD BEEN ELAPSED SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE CORPORATIONS, MR JACOBS SAID IT WAS NOW APPROPRIATE то REVIEW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE ORGANISATIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE.
"ACTION IS ALREADY IN HAND ON SUCH AN EXERCISE.
"WHILE WE WOULD NOT WISH TO ENCROACH ON THEIR PROPER OPERATIONAL AUTONOMY, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE CORPORATIONS ARE FULFILLING THEIR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES," HE SAID.
EXCHANGE FUND BILLS: MR JACOBS NOTED THAT SEVERAL MEMBERS COMMENTED ON AND SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL TO ISSUE EXCHANGE FUND BILLS.
/HOWEVER,