XN000022-1976-08-25 — Page 2

CIVIL SERVICE STRENGTH

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THE TOTAL STRENGTH OF CIVIL SERVICE ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR WAS 104,157, ACCORDING TO THE ANNUAL REPORT ON THE CIVIL SERVICE FOR 1975-76 PUBLISHED TODAY.

COMPARED WITH THE NUMBER ON THE SAME DAY LAST YEAR. IT SHOWED A DROP OF 134.

OF THE TOTAL, 82,387 WERE MEN AND 21,770 WOMEN- 60,065 WERE PENSIONABLE AND 44,092 NON-PENSIONABLE AND 101,581'WERE LOCAL STAFF AND 2,576 OVERSEAS STAFF,

THERE WERE 19,809 STAFF IN THE RANK AND FILE OF DISCIPLINED SERVICES WHILE THE NUMBER OF MINOR STAFF TOTALLED 38,829.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STAFF WHO RETIRED DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR AMOUNTED TO 1,456.

THE SECRETARY FOR CIVIL SERVICE SAID: +EXPANSION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IS CAREFULLY CONTROLLED, AND BEFORE ANY ADDITIONAL POSTS ARE APPROVED, HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT THE POSTS ARE ESSENTIAL IN TERMS OF WORKLOAD AND GENERAL EFFICIENCY.+

HONG KONG PROMOTION IN LONDON *****

THE HONG KONG AUGUST PROMOTION IN LONDON GOT OFF TO A SPECTACULAR START YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON WITH THE HONG KONG SCHOOLS CHINESE DANCE GROUP PERFORMING THE FLOWER DRUM DANCE ON THE LAWN IN FRONT OF THE COMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE IN LONDON.

LATER, HUNDREDS OF LONDONERS AND TOURISTS LINED THE BALCONIES OF THE INSTITUTE WHEN THE DANCERS GAVE TWO 30-MINUTE PERFORMANCES IN THE MAIN GALLERIES. THE VISITORS WERE TREATED TO A SPLENDID DISPLAY OF CLASSICAL AND FOLK DANCES, INCLUDING THE POPULAR DANCE OF THE SUN FLOWERS'.

A DEMONSTRATION OF CARPET MAKING BY TWO YOUNG CRAFTSWOMEN FROM THE HONG KONG CARPET MANUFACTURING LIMITED ATTRACTED MANY VISITORS TO THE PERMANENT HONG KONG EXHIBITION IN THE COMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE.

THERE WAS ALSO A DISPLAY OF CHINESE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS ARRANGED BY MR. RAYMOND MAN. A NOTED CHINESE MUSICIAN WHO NOW LIVES IN BRITAIN, AND WHO GAVE IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCES.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE HONG KONG PROMOTION INCLUDE A PRODUCT DISPLAY BY THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND CONTINUOUS SHOWS OF HONG KONG FILMS AND THE HONG KONG LIGHT SHOW+.

AN INFORMATION DESK MANNED BY STAFF OF THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION WAS SET UP AT THE MAIN ENTRANCES TO THE INSTITUTE.

A RECEPTION ATTENDED BY

TO MARK THE HONG KONG PROMOTION.

SOME 500 PEOPLE WAS HELD AT THE INSTITUTE LAST NIGHT.

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