FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1993
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PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM KICKS OFF WELL: CS
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT PROGRAMME OF PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM LAUNCHED SINCE MAY LAST YEAR HAD HELPED TO ACHIEVE A BETTER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
A
"OF
COURSE, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE DONE AND WE MUST RETAIN ENTHUSIASM TO SEE THE PROGRAMME THROUGH," SIR DAVID SAID.
HE WAS SPEAKING ON "PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM: WHERE THE IRON RICE BOWL MEETS THE BOTTOM LINE" AT A LUNCHEON HOSTED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH.
AN EFFICIENCY UNIT WAS SET UP IN SIR DAVID'S OFFICE IN MAY LAST WITH A REMIT TO DEVISE AND PROMOTE A PROGRAMME OF PUBLIC SECTOR
YEAR REFORM.
THE UNIT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE 14 BRANCHES IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND THE 70-ODD DEPARTMENTS ON INITIATIVES UNDER TWO MAIN HEADINGS. IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK AND INTRODUCING PERFORMANCE PLEDGES.
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"WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE YOU, THE PUBLIC, A BIGGER BANG FOR YOUR BUCK," SIR DAVID SAID.
HE SAID
POLICY SECRETARIES WERE BEING GIVEN THE NECESSARY AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO MANAGE THEIR BUSINESSES ΤΟ PRODUCE RESULTS ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET.
THROUGH A SYSTEM OF PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT THE CIVIL SERVICE IS INCREASING THE EMPHASIS ON PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT, QUALITY OF SERVICE, VALUE FOR MONEY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, HE ADDED.
SERVICE-PROVIDER
"THE CIVIL SERVICE IS, OF COURSE, THE LARGEST HERE IN HONG KONG. OUR SERVICES ARE USED BY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE SIX MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID THE 30 PERFORMANCE PLEDGES ALREADY MADR BY DEPARTMENTS HAD SIGNIFICANTLY AND IMMEDIATELY INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
CUSTOMER LIAISON GROUPS ARE BEING INTRODUCED INTO CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AND THE POST OFFICE TO EFFECTIVELY CHANNEL CUSTOMERS' INPUT INTO THE DEPARTMENT'S WORK.
"THE CUSTOMER LIAISON GROUP IS A NEW CONCEPT IN GOVERNMENT. IS TOO EARLY TO ASSESS HOW IT IS WORKING, BUT I AM PLEASED INITIAL FEEDBACK IS THAT DEPARTMENTS AND CUSTOMERS ALIKE FOUND REALLY HELPFUL.
DAYS, BUT
THE CHIEF SECRETARY ALSO SAID CUSTOMER SURVEYS WERE USED THAN
EARLY
INITIAL RESULTS ENCOURAGING."
OFTEN
BEFORE. "IT'S
IT THAT
THEM
MORE
ARE
/SIR DAVID