XN000022-1978-11-29 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1978

CANTONESE COURSES FOR OVERSEAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

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IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY THAT ALL OVERSEAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS, EXCEPT THOSE APPOINTED OVER THE AGE OF 40, SHOULD ATTEND FULL-TIME CANTONESE COURSES AND SIT AT LEAST TWO EXAMINATIONS, SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. MARTIN ROWLANDS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

FOR PENSIONABLE OFFICERS, A PASS AT THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL WAS A CONDITION OF CONFIRMATION, HE ADDED IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE HON, LO TAK-SHING.

+SINCE 1963, WHEN PROPER RECORDS FIRST BEGAN TO BE KEPT,+ MR. ROWLANDS SAID, +57 SERVING OVERSEAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS HAVE OBTAINED LANGUAGE QUALIFICATIONS. 12 OF THESE HAVE PASSED THE ADVANCED LEVEL IN CANTONESE- 28 HAVE PASSED THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL. AND A FURTHER 17 OFFICERS STILL ON PROBATION HAVE PASSED THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL. THE REMAINING 50 OVERSEAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS EITHER STUDIED CANTONESE BEFORE 1963 OR WERE APPOINTED TO HONG KONG AFTER THE AGE OF 40.+

ON WRITTEN CHINESE, 16 OVERSEAS OFFICERS HAVE PASSED GOVERNMENT EXAMINATIONS, TWO BEING AT THE ADVANCED LEVEL.

+I AM UNABLE TO DEDUCE FROM THESE FIGURES HOW MANY OFF ICERS ARE CURRENTLY UP TO THE STANDARDS IMPLIED BY THE QUESTION. THIS IS PARTLY BECAUSE, AS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS ADVANCE IN THE IR CAREERS, THE INCREASING DEMANDS OF THEIR WORK, COUPLED WITH REDUCED CONTACT WITH NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLE, TEND TO RESULT IN THEIR LINGUISTIC FACILITY DECLINING,+ MR. ROWLANDS SAID.

HE ADDED THAT HE COULD NOT GIVE PRECISE FIGURES, BUT IT WAS A FACT THE THE NUMBERS WERE LESS THAN HE WOULD WISH.

+ I SHALL LOOK INTO THE MATTER TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE BY WAY OF IMPROVEMENT, MR. ROWLANDS SAID.

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