XN000022-1978-04-13 — Page 15

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

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+MY INITIAL, AND TENTATIVE, VIEW IS THAT SUCH PAY AND STRUCTURE MATTERS SHOULD CONTINUE IN THE FIRST INSTANCE. TO BE REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTAL STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE RESPECTIVE VIEWS OF BOTH THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF SIDES, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT COINCIDE. THE MATTER SHOULD THEN BE CONSIDERED CENTRALLY, WITHOUT DELAY, USING NEW NEGOTIATING PROCEDURES TAILORED TO MEET OUR LOCAL REQUIREMENTS.+

IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT ANY NEW PROCEDURES SHOULD, FROM THE OUTSET, ENJOY THE CONFIDENCE OF BOTH THE STAFF AND THE GOVERNMENT, AND THAT IT BE ACCEPTED BY ALL CONCERNED THAT THE PURPOSE WAS TO REACH AGREEMENT.

MR. ROWLANDS SAID MANY STAFF MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE STEMMED DIRECTLY FROM THE RAPID EXPANSION TO WHICH WE WERE COMMITTED IN ORDER TO DEVELOP PUBLIC SERVICES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES AT THE DESIRED RATE.

+ IT IS MY IMPRESSION THAT THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT IS NOW SO FAST THAT MANY SENIOR OFFICERS SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE TIME TO DEAL ADEQUATELY WITH STAFF MANAGEMENT ON TOP OF THEIR .. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR POLICY, PLANNING, OPERATIONS AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. URGENT STUDIES ARE NEEDED TO GET THE MEASURE OF THE PROBLEM, AND TO WORK OUT QUICK AND SIMPLE REMEDIES, HE SAID.

+MY OWN TENTATIVE VIEW IS THAT IN MANY DEPARTMENTS WE SHALL FIND A NEED FOR SENIOR OFFICERS ABLE TO DEVOTE THEIR WHOLE TIME TO SUPERVISING RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, POSTINGS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, WELFARE, STAFF RELATIONS AND RELATED MATTERS.+

HE SAID HE COULD TESTIFY FROM HIS OWN RECENT EXPERIENCE THAT AN INVESTMENT IN RESPONSIVE STAFF MANAGEMENT COULD LEAD QUICKLY TO VISIBLY BETTER MORALE, GREATER EFFICIENCY, AND TO ECONOMY IN THE USE OF SCARCE STAFF.

+ IF IT SHOULD BE DECIDED TO APPOINT SENIOR STAFF MANAGERS IN THE LARGER DEPARTMENTS. PERHAPS AS PART OF A PLAN TO IMPROVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GENERALLY, I AM REASONABLY CONFIDENT THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO FIND SUITABLE CANDIDATES FROM AMONG SERVING OFFICERS IN PROFESSIONAL AND GENERAL GRADES.+

ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT, MR. ROWLANDS SAID THIS LAY AT THE HEART OF GOOD STAFF MANAGEMENT IN AN ORGANISATION THE SIZE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

+AN YET IT MUST BE ADMITTED,+ HE SAID, THAT THE APPLICATION OF THIS CONCEPT WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE IS STILL VERY MUCH IN. ITS INFANCY, PARTLY BECAUSE IT REQUIRES HIGHLY SKILLED, AND THEREFORE SCARCE, STAFF IF IT IS TO BE EFFECTIVE.+

HE SAID A GREAT DEAL MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE BY WAY OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL SERVING OFFICERS, BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS.

/ON LOCALISATION,