IN 1990 WE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1993
INTRODUCED NEW ARRANGEMENTS ΤΟ ALLOW CIVIL SERVANTS TO OWN THEIR OWN PROPERTY. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSPICUOUS SUCCESS, ALTHOUGH THE PACE OF PROPERTY PRICE INCREASES IS ERODING THEIR WORTH. WE APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS A CONCERN TO STAFF AND WE HAVE RESPONDED BY REVIEWING THE EXISTING HOUSING BENEFITS. MEMBERS ARE BEING ASKED THIS FRIDAY TO APPROVE MODEST IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HOME PURCHASE SCHEME. ANOTHER REVIEW IS BEING CARRIED OUT ON THE HOME FINANCING SCHEME. WE ALSO ENSURE THAT OUR DISCIPLINED SERVICES ARE PROPERLY CATERED FOR AND MEMBERS, I AM GLAD TO SAY, RECOGNISED THIS LAST WEEK WHEN VOTING NO LESS THAN $2.6 BILLION FOR PURCHASE OF MORE QUARTERS.
PENSIONS
WE IMPROVED THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR DEPENDANTS' BENEFITS IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR AND RECENTLY ESTABLISHED PENSIONERS WELFARE FUND.
A
LAST BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST, AS THE CHIEF SECRETARY ALLUDED TO, WE ARE GREATLY STEPPING UP OUR TRAINING, ESPECIALLY THAT RELATED TO CHINA AND PUTONGHUA, TO EQUIP CIVIL SERVANTS TO MEET THE TRANSITION.
AND HERE I MIGHT JUST ADD THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ENCOURAGES, POSITIVELY ENCOURAGES MORE CONTACT BETWEEN CIVIL SERVANTS AND CHINESE OFFICIALS. AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BEIJING COURSE, VARIOUS FAMILIARISATION VISITS AND DUTY VISITS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. IN OUR CHINA STUDIES PROGRAMME WE ALSO INVITE CHINESE OFFICIALS AND ACADEMICS TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO CIVIL SERVANTS AS AND WHEN THERE ARE SUITABLE SPEAKERS AND SUBJECTS. SO OUR PROGRAMMES IN THIS AREA ARE EXPANDING RAPIDLY AND ARE FAR MORE THAN WINDOW DRESSING AS ONE HONOURABLE MEMBER MIGHT DESCRIBE THEM.
ALL OF THOSE MEASURES THAT I'VE JUST OUTLINED, TOGETHER ΚΙΤΗ SYMPATHETIC MANAGEMENT, ARE THE SORTS OF ISSUES THAT AFFECT ALL CIVIL SERVANTS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND WHICH HAVE A MORE DIRECT IMPACT ON MORALE THAN ONE-OFF ISSUES WHICH HIT THE HEADLINES. I THINK THE LIST THAT I'VE GIVEN WHICH IS FAR FROM EXHAUSTIVE I MAY SAY SPEAKS ITSELF.
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SOME MEMBERS MENTIONED POLITICISATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE THE DANGERS IN THAT. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE ALWAYS BEEN POLITICALLY NEUTRAL. THERE'S NO INTENTION NOR ANY REASON TO CHANGE THIS. AND J AM GLAD THAT HONOURABLE MEMBERS RECOGNISE THE VALUE OF MAINTAINING THIS POSITION. ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, I'M AFRAID THAT MEMBERS MAY HAVE LITTLE IDEA DUE TO LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH ITS WORK, AS TO THE VERY IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY THE INSTITUTION. ONE OF ITS KEY ROLES IS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN APPOINTMENTS. IT IS ALSO VIGOROUSLY SCRUTINISING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRACTICES IN THIS AREA. WE HAVE NO PLANS TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE PSC'S ROLE.
SOME MEMBERS REFERRED TO THE ISSUE OF PAY AND SUGGESTED THAT WE MIGHT REFER THIS TO A THIRD PARTY TO RESOLVE.
THE GOVERNMENT'S DECLARED POLICY ON CIVIL SERVICE REMUNERATION IS THAT THE PAY AND FRINGE BENEFITS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE SHOULD BE BROADLY COMPARABLE WITH THOSE PAID BY GOOD EMPLOYERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WE HAVE NOT DEPARTED FROM THIS POLICY. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE ΤΟ SUGGEST THAT CIVIL SERVICE PAY IS LAGGING BEHIND THAT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. ON THE CONTRARY, THERE HAS BEEN CRITICISM THAT CIVIL SERVANTS ENJOY MORE FAVOURABLE TREATMENT.
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