XN000022-1974-05-22 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1974.

NO CHANGE IN MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE FOR RICE

THE MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE OF RICE WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED AT $2.50 PER CATTY DURING JUNE, THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THIS HAD BEEN AGREED BY THE RICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AFTER A DETAILED CONSIDERATION OF RICE PRICING ARRANGEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE

TRADE.

IMPORTERS AND RETAILERS HAVE AGREED TO A SMALLER MARK-UP THAN THE DC AND I FORMULA WOULD HAVE ALLOWED, HE SAID, IN THE INTERESTS OF MAINTAINING THE PRESENT PRICE STRUCTURE FOR CONSUMERS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS REPORTEDLY MADE BY AN URBAN COUNCILLOR THAT SIX IMPORTERS ARE SELLING THEIR QUOTA RIGHTS AND ARE NOT ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING IN THE RICE TRADE.

*WE ARE INVITING THE COUNCILLOR CONCERNED TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH US IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE FOUNDATION FOR THESE ALLEGATIONS, HE ADDED.

+THE DEPARTMENT HAS NO EVIDENCE AT THE MOMENT TO SUBSTANTIATE ANY BREACH OF THE REGULATIONS BY IMPORTERS WITHIN THE RICE CONTROL SCHEME.+

EMPHASIS ON LOCAL RECRUITMENT ******

MORE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS WILL BE RECRUITED LOCALLY THAN OVERSEAS, THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. MICHAEL CLINTON, DISCLOSED TODAY.

+THE PROPORTION OF OVERSEAS TO LOCAL RECRUITS IS REGULARLY REVIEVED AND THE TARGET FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS IS VERY ROUGHLY FIVE LOCAL TO ABOUT THREE OVERSEAS ENTRANTS, HE SAID.

*REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM. THE HON. JAMES WU, MR. CLINTON EXPLAINED THAT THE POLICY WAS TO RECRUIT SOME OVERSEAS AND SOME LOCAL CANDIDATES EACH YEAR.

THE MAIN QUALIFICATION FOR APPLICANTS FROM OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC SERVICE IS A GOOD HONOURS DEGREE. HOWEVER, DEGREES FROM NON-COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITIES ARE ACCEPTED IF THEY ARE OF EQUIVALENT STANDARD AND WE ALREADY HAVE SOME SUCH OFFICERS.

FOR

MR. CLINTON SAID THAT THE PRINCIPAL METHOD OF RECRUITMENT WAS BY OPEN COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION USUALLY HELD ANNUALLY. SERVING OFFICERS, THE DEGREE QUALIFICATIONS MAY BE WAIVED, HE ADDED.

+THE UPPER AGE LIMIT FOR SUCH ENTRANTS HAS NORMALLY BEEN 35 YEARS, BUT IN THE MOST RECENT RECRUITMENT EXERCISE EARLIER THIS YEAR IT WAS RAISED TO 45 YEARS AS AN EXPERIMENT.

AND FOR

THE FIRST TIME, APPLICATIONS WERE ALSO INVITED FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE RANK OF SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER.+ MR. CLINTON SAID.

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