WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1992
INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE CIVIL SERVICE EFFICIENCY
(WEDNESDAY) THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, TODAY OUTLINED INITIATIVES THAT SEEK TO CHANGE THE ATTITUDE AND APPROACH TO THE SPENDING OF PUBLIC MONEY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER WONG HONG-YUEN IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID SAID THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO ENABLE SERVANTS TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND GIVE A BETTER TO THE PUBLIC.
THE
CIVIL
SERVICE
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE EFFICIENCY UNIT WAS ESTABLISHED IN MAY TO GIVE ADDED IMPETUS TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM PROGRAMME.
SINCE THEN
THE UNIT HAS CONCENTRATED ON THE FOLLOWING
THREE
AREAS:
*
PERFORMANCE PLEDGES INITIATIVE:
ΤΟ THE PUBLIC
UNDERSTAND
MORE
THE PLEDGES WILL ENABLE CLEARLY THE LEVELS AND QUALITY OF SERVICE THEY ARE ENTITLED IT IS то EXPECT AND ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO MONITOR THAT MEETING THE TARGETS.
THE FIRST SEVEN PLEDGES WILL BE MADE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
DEVELOPMENT OF STRUCTURED PROGRAMMES :
THESE WILL HELP TO DEFINE CLEARLY A DEPARTMENT'S AND ENABLE COSTS TO BE ALLOCATED TO EACH ACTIVITY.
ACTIVITIES
THE UNIT IS SEEKING TO INTRODUCE THESE, WITH PERFORMANCE MEASURES, ACROSS THE MAIN APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS BY APRIL NEXT YEAR.
THIS
OF
THE
DEVOLUTION INITIATIVE WILL FACILITATE THE FURTHER
ΤΟ RESPONSIBILITY
ΤΟ POLICY SECRETARIES AND
DEPARTMENTS, THUS ENABLING THEM TO BE MORE PRO-ACTIVE WHEN EXAMINING BENEFITS OBTAINED FROM A GIVEN LEVEL OF RESOURCES;
DEVELOPMENT OF DRAFT LEGISLATION FOR TRADING FUNDS:
A TRADING FUND WILL PROVIDE CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS WITH GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO BRING ABOUT EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS.
THE TRADING FUNDS BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 18.
IN ADDITION, SIR DAVID SAID THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES GRADE WOULD CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT VALUE FOR MONEY AND TOP-DOWN REVIEWS IN DEPARTMENTS.
/THIS WILL