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We are continuing discussion with the Singapore civil service on the details and the logistics of the exchange programme, including the commencement date, duration and criteria in selecting personnel. We hope that in a few months' time, we would be able to send the first civil servant from Hong Kong to the Singapore civil service.
The Hong Kong civil service have broadly similar exchange programmes with the civil service in Australia and Canada. These programmes bear the same objective as the one being proposed between Hong Kong and Singapore. We may consider exploring similar programmes with other civil services should we see merit in so doing.
End
Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund payment applications
Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Reply:
Will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
Mr President,
(a)
of the total number of applications for ex-gratia payment from the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund(the Fund) in 1995/96, together with a breakdown of the applicants by trade; and
how the Labour Department determines the target set out in its performance pledge of completing the processing of an application for ex-gratia payment within four to ten weeks; and whether, in setting such a target, consideration has been given to the actual financial situation of the applicants?
In 1995/96, there were 6,730 applications for ex-gratia payments from the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund. A breakdown of these applications by economic sector is as follows: