XN000022-1976-02-18 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1976

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STATEMENT BY SECRETARY FOR CIVIL SERVICE

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR. A.J. SCOTT, COMMENTED TODAY ON RECENT PRESS REPORTS REFERRING TO A +PROPOSED NEW POLICY+ OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION TO HOLD SENIOR PUBLIC SERVANTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IR STAFF DOING THEIR JOBS PROPERLY AND EFFICIENTLY. MR. SCOTT SAID THAT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BASIC CIVIL SERVICE PRINCIPLE THAT OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS AND FOR. THOSE OF THE STAFF UNDER THEIR CONTROL.

HE WELCOMED THE CLARIFICATION GIVEN BY THE COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION, MR. J. CATER, AT HIS LUNCHTIME ADDRESS ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 17), BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE MIGHT BE MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE OF +ACCOUNTABILITY+, AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION.

THE SECRETARY CONTINUED: +IF A CORRUPTION CASE IN A DEPARTMENT OR BRANCH OF A DEPARTMENT IS THE RESULT OF INEFFICIENCY ON THE PART OF A SUPERVISING OFFICER, APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION IS TAKEN.+

MR. SCOTT ALSO RESPONDED TO A QUESTION POSED IN THE S.C.M.P. ON FEBRUARY 15: +HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU HEARD OF PUBLIC SERVANTS BEING DISMISSED FOR NOT DOING THEIR JOBS?+ BY POINTING OUT THAT DURING 1975 SIX PENSIONABLE CIVIL SERVANTS WERE COMPULSOR ILY RETIRED (UNDER COLONIAL REGULATION 59) FOR INEFFICIENCY OR UNSATISFACTORY SERVICE THIRTEEN WERE DISMISSED (UNDER CR 42 AND 57) FOR MISCONDUCT AND THIRTEEN WERE DISMISSED (UNDER CR 58) AS A RESULT OF BEING CONVICTED IN COURT ON CRIMINAL CHARGES. A NUMBER OF OFFICERS CHOSE TO RESIGN OR RETIRE VOLUNTARILY RATHER THAN FACE PROCEEDINGS. FOR COMPULSORY RETIREMENT.

IN REPLY TO FURTHER QUESTIONS, MR. SCOTT CONFIRMED THAT ONE OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES IS THE EFFICIENT USE OF MANPOWER RESOURCES. HE WELCOMED ANY IDEAS TO REDUCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORRUPTION, WHICH WOULD NOT REDUCE EFFECTIVENESS BY ADDING FURTHER LEVELS OF SUPERVISION AND THUS REDUCE INITIATIVE AND SLOW DOWN SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.

IT IS VITAL, HE SAID, THAT A DYNAMIC AND GROWING COMMUNITY LIKE HONG KONG SHOULD FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN THE NECESSARY CONTROL OF CORRUPTION, BOTH IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, AND THE CAPACITY FOR INITIATIVE AND DECISION-MAKING ESSENTIAL TO A FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE CIVIL SERVICE.

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