WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1993
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HK GOVT OFFICE IN LONDON SETS FOR RESTRUCTURING
THE SIZE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON WILL BE REDUCED, ACCORDING TO THE COMMISSIONER, LONDON'S PROPOSAL.
1997.
IT WILL BE RE-ORGANISED INTO AN ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE AFTER
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR T H CHAU, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON EMILY LAU WAI-HING, MR CHAU SAID THE PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING OF THE LONDON OFFICE WOULD CONSIST OF THREE STAGES.
IN THE FIRST STAGE (1994/95), THERE ARE PLANS ΤΟ MOVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENTS FROM THE LONDON OFFICE TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH AND DELETE EIGHT POSTS IN LONDON OFFICE.
THE HONG KONG-BASED OFFICERS CONCERNED WOULD RETURN TO HONG KONG AT THE END OF THEIR CURRENT POSTINGS. THE LOCALLY-EMPLOYED STAFF WOULD BE EITHER REDEPLOYED WITHIN THE OFFICE OR BE INVITED ΤΟ APPLY FOR VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY.
IN THE SECOND STAGE (1995/96), THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION THE STUDENT AFFAIRS DIVISION WOULD BE RESTRUCTURED AND STREAMLINED.
AND
IN THE THIRD STAGE
(1996/97), THE PARLIAMENTARY LIAISON
DIVISION WOULD BE RESTRUCTURED AND STREAMLINED.
MR CHAU SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD REVIEW THE COMMISSIONER'S PROPOSALS FOR 1995/96 AND 1996/97 NEARER THE RESPECTIVE TIME-FRAMES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ANNUAL DRAFT ESTIMATES.
THE COMMISSIONER, LONDON HAD NOT SUBMITTED ANY SPECIFIC PROPOSALS REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THE GRAFTON STREET OFFICE OR THE COMMISSIONER'S RESIDENCE AT COWLEY STREET.
GRAFTON LOOKING
THE ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO A LEASE FOR THE STREET OFFICE UP TO JUNE 2004. THE COMMISSIONER IS CURRENTLY INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF SHARING THE OFFICE WITH OTHER HONG KONG-BASED ORGANISATIONS WITH OFFICES IN LONDON, HE SAID.
THE LEASEHOLD ON THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICIAL RESIDENCE AT COWLEY STREET WAS BOUGHT IN 1978 FOR 75 YEARS, AND IS OWNED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT UNTIL 2053. MR CHAU EXPLAINED.
NO PARTICULAR PROBLEMS HAVE ARISEN IN IMPLEMENTING COMMISSIONER'S PROPOSALS, HE ADDED.
THE
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