XN000022-1978-01-11 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1978

POLICY ON COMPUTERISATION OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. SIR DENYS ROBERTS SAID TODAY IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO USE COMPUTERS IF PRACTICABLE WHEN THIS WOULD SAVE STAFF COSTS OR PRODUCE QUICKER AND MORE RELIABLE RESULTS.

IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM THE HON. S.L. CHEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR DENYS SAID ALL PROPOSALS FOR COMPUTER ISATION OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS HAD TO BE APPROVED BY A COMPUTER APPLICATIONS COMMITTEE.

HE NOTED THAT THE COMMITTEE COMPRISING THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION, THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, ALSO DETERMINED THE PRIORITY TO BE GIVEN

IN EACH CASE.

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REVIEW OF HOUSING POLICIES FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

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THE GOVERNMENT IS REVIEWING ALL EXISTING POLICIES FOR THE HOUSING OF CIVIL SERVANTS TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE MODIFIED AND, IF SO, HOW THESE MODIFICATIONS SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT.

THE SECRETARY FOR CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. RON BRIDGE SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN.

MR. BRIDGE SAID VIEWS OF THE MAIN STAFF ASSOCIATIONS HAD BEEN OBTAINED INFORMALLY AND HE EXPECTED THE REVIEW WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR.

IN ANSWER TO A POINT RAISED BY MR. CHEONG-LEEN ON A LOAN SCHEME FOR ABOUT 8,000 LOCAL CIVIL SERVANTS, WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY FORM OF PUBLIC HOUSING OR HOUSING ALLOWANCES, TO PURCHASE THE IR OWN FLATS. MR. BRIDGE SAID IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO CONSIDER THE LOAN SCHEME TO THESE CIVIL SERVANTS AT PRESENT IN ISOLATION FROM THE TYPE OF ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO OTHER CIVIL SERVANTS.

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