THURSDAY, 15 OCTOBER 1992
A PLEDGE OF QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICE
THE PUBLIC ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE HEAD OF THE EFFICIENCY
UNIT, MR ROBERT FOOTMAN, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
MR
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ELABORATE ON THE PERFORMANCE PLEDGES PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS POLICY SPEECH, FOOTMAN SAID THE PROGRAMME UNDERWROTE THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT OPENNESS, ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOOD STANDARDS OF SERVICE.
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"UNDER THE PROGRAMME, ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WHICH PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WILL, OVER TIME, PRODUCE PERFORMANCE PLEDGES TO THE PUBLIC WHICH SPELL OUT CLEARLY WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AND WHAT STANDARDS HAVE BEEN SET, SO THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW WHETHER SUCH STANDARDS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED AND WHAT TO DO IF THEY ARE NOT, MR FOOTMAN SAID.
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NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY DONE A GREAT DEAL PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH GOOD PUBLIC SERVICES. THE PERFORMANCE PLEDGE INITIATIVE WOULD PROVIDE A SHARPER FOCUS AND STRONGER IMPETUS TO THESE EFFORTS.
HE SAID THAT THE PERFORMANCE PLEDGES WOULD ENABLE THE PUBLIC TO JUDGE FOR THEMSELVES, BASED ON CLEAR CRITERIA, HOW WELL THEY WERE
BEING SERVED.
THE FIRST BATCH OF PERFORMANCE PLEDGES FOR A SELECTED NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES WOULD BE PUBLISHED WITHIN THREE MONTHS. THE SCOPE OF THE PLEDGES WOULD INCLUDE:
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INLAND REVENUE, FIRE SERVICES AND TRADE ACROSS THE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FOR WHICH THEY ARE THE LEAD DEPARTMENTS;
TRANSPORT VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCES, WHICH MAKE UP SOME 75 PER CENT OF THEIR FEE-PAYING TRANSACTIONS;
IMMIGRATION SERVICES PROVIDED AT CONTROL POINTS AND BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGE REGISTRIES;
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HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED IN HOSPITAL AUTHORITY'S SPECIALIST CLINICS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS;
POLICE
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SERVICES IN RESPONSE TO CALLS FOR EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCË.
MR POOTMAN SAID ACTION WAS IN HAND TO IDENTIFY THE SECOND BATCH OF DEPARTMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN PERFORMANCE PLEDGES, WHICH WOULD BE A PERMANENT FEATURE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
KE SAID PERFORMANCE PLEDGES INCORPORATED THE CONCEPT OF A "USER'S COMMITTEE", WHERE THESE COULD HELP MONITOR THE PLEDGES. THE COMMITTEES WOULD CONSIST MAINLY OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND COULD BASED ON EXISTING COMMITTERS.
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/"THESE COMMITTEES