XN000022-1974-07-25 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1974

OVERSEAS DEGREE QUALIFICATIONS ACCEPTED

FOR GOVERNMENT JOBS

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THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR. TONY HAMMOND, SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES ACCEPT AMERICAN AND OTHER OVERSEAS DEGREE QUALIFICATIONS IN RECRUITING STAFF TO THE CIVIL SERVICE.

HE MADE THE REMARKS AT A STUDENT ORIENTATION PROGRAMME ORGANISED BY THE HANG SENG BANK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR FURTHER STUDIES IN AMERICA.

IN FACT, MR. HAMMOND SAID THAT CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT FOR JOBS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE REQUIRING GRADUATES USUALLY STIPULATE 'A HONG KONG DEGREE OF THE T EQUIVALENT'.

HE EXPLAINED THAT IN THE CASE OF DEGREES OBTAINED ABROAD, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, IT WAS NECESSARY TO ASSESS THE HONG KONG EQUIVALENT.

THIS, HE SAID, WAS BASED ON THE LENGTH AND DEPTH OF STUDY LEADING TO THE DEGREE AND THE STANDARD ATTA INED.

MR. HAMMOND ADDED THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH HAD THE NECESSARY HEANS TO ASSESS AND TO RECOGNISE THE EQUIVALENT HONG KONG STANDARD OF AN AMERICAN DEGREE. BUT EACH APPLICATION HAS TO BE ASSESSED ON ITS INDIVIDUAL MERITS.+

HIS ADVICE TO HOLDERS OF AMERICAN DEGREES WHO WERE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT, BUT VERE IN DOUBT ABOUT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, WAS TO APPLY FOR THE JOB.

ON THE QUESTION OF POST GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS, MR. HAMMOND SAID THERE WERE OPENINGS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE FOR MOST PROFESSIONS, BUT THERE VERE SOME DIFFICULTIES ABOUT THE ACCEPTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS OBTAINED OUTS IDE HONG KONG

HOWEVER, APART FROM JODS REQUIRING A PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION THERE WERE MANY OTHER JOBS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THE TWO GENERAL GRADES WHICH REGULARLY RECRUIT GRADUATES ARE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND EXECUTIVE CRADES AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER CRADES WHOSE MEMBERS SPECIALISE IN A PARTICULAR SPHERE OF GOVERMENT ACTIVITIES. IN THESE LATTER POSTS, DEGREES ARE ALSO PREFERRED.