XN000022-1976-10-17 — Page 4

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1976

FINANCE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT GOES +OPEN PLAN+

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THE SECOND BRANCH IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT TO CHANGE TO THE +OPEN PLAN+ OFFICE SYSTEM IS THE FINANCE BRANCH WHICH HAS JUST MOVED INTO ITS NEW OFFICE SEATING ARRANGEMENT.

THE FIRST BRANCH TO GO +OPEN PLAN+ WAS THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH EARLIER THIS YEAR.

COMMENTING ON THE MOVE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FINANCE BRANCH SAID THAT APART FROM SAVING SPACE, THE OPEN PLAN SYSTEM IS ALSO IN KEEPING WITH MODERN OFFICE SETTINGS, ESPECIALLY WHERE A LARGE NUMBER OF STAFF ARE INVOLVED.

PREVIOUSLY, STAFF WERE ACCOMMODATED IN SEPARATE ROOMS, EITHER INDIVIDUALLY OR SEVERAL TOGETHER, BUT NOW EACH DIVISION OF THE BRANCH IS GROUPED INTO A SECTION OF THE +OPEN PLAN+ AREA IN WHICH ALSO SITS THE SENIOR OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PARTICULAR DIVISION.

+THIS MEANS STAFF HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO EACH OTHER AND ALSO SAVES ON HAVING TO WALK LONG DISTANCES TO OTHER ROOMS, ALL OF WHICH GO TOWARDS GREATER EFFICIENCY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

C.A.D. MAN TO ATTEND AIR SERVICES TALKS

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MR. NORMAN LATHAM, ACTING CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, LEFT FOR WASHINGTON THIS (SUNDAY) MORNING TO TAKE PART IN AIR SERVICES TALKS BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITED STATES.

THE TALKS ARE THE SECOND ROUND OF A SERIES CONCERNED WITH THE NEGOTIATION OF A NEW U.K./U.S. AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT.

FOLLOWING THE WASHINGTON MEETING, MR. LATHAM WILL GO DIRECT TO DELHI TO ATTEND AIR SERVICES TALKS BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND INDIA. THIS MEETING HAS BEEN ARRANGED TO AMEND ROUTE SCHEDULES OF THE DESIGNATED AIRLINES: CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS, BRITISH AIRWAYS AND AIR INDIA.

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