XN000022-1979-04-12 — Page 21

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1979

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PLAN TO SET UP CIVIL SERVICE STAFF MANAGEMENT AND

LIAISON SERVICE

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. MARTIN ROWLANDS, TODAY (THURSDAY) UNVEILED A PLAN TO SET UP A CIVIL SERVICE STAFF MANAGEMENT ADVISORY AND LIAISON SERVICE.

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. ROWLANDS SAID THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN IN APRIL NEXT YEAR WILL BE SUBJECT TO RECOMMENDATIONS BY CURRENT STUDIES AND THE APPROVAL OF FUNDS BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

HE SAID THE AIM OF THE SERVICE, WHICH WILL INITIALLY OPERATE ON A TRIAL BASIS FOR THREE YEARS, IS TO ADVISE DEPARTMENTS AND PROVIDE LIAISON LINKS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS BETWEEN THEM AND THE SECRETARIAT.

HE ENVISAGED THAT THE SERVICE MIGHT START WITH A NUCLEUS OF ABOUT SIX STAFF, RISING TO 25 IN THE SECOND YEAR AND HEADED BY ONE WHO HAS SERVED AS A DEPARTMENT CHIEF.

+ DO NOT ENVISAGE THE SERVICE HAVING ANY PERMANENT STAFF OF ITS OWN, APART FROM CLERICAL SUPPORT, BUT RATHER BEING STAFFED BY OFFICERS SECONDED TO IT FROM DEPARTMENTS FOR TOURS OF THREE YEARS OR SO, MR. ROWLANDS EXPLAINED.

A KEY POINT IS, MR. ROWLANDS SAID, THAT THE SERVICE SHOULD BE ADVISORY TO HEADS OF DEPARTMENT.

+IT IS A HEAD OF DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MANAGE, AND I FORESEE CONFUSION AND CONFLICT IF THE STAFF MANAGEMENT SERVICE IS GIVEN EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.

+FOR SIMILAR REASONS, ALTHOUGH THE HEAD OF THE STAFF MANAGEMENT SERVICE MIGHT BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, HE AND HIS STAFF OUGHT ALMOST CERTAINLY TO BE OUTSIDE THE HIERARCHY OF CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH,+ MR. ROWLANDS POINTED OUT.

MR. ROWLANDS SAID HE SEES THE STAFF MANAGEMENT SERVICE GIVING A POWERFUL IMPETUS TO SUCH SUBJECTS AS MANAGEMENT TRAINING, STAFF RELATIONS AND STAFF WELFARE, THOUGH CONTROL OF RESOURCES FOR THESE PURPOSES WOULD REMAIN WITH DEPARTMENTS.

AS A GENERAL RULE, HE ADDED, THE STAFF MANAGEMENT SERVICE WOULD WORK THROUGH OTHERS, THUS IT WOULD ASK THE CIVIL SERVICE TRAINING DIVISION TO ORGANISE SEMINARS FOR IT, OR THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION TO UNDERTAKE ANY MANAGEMENT STUDIES.

THE NEW SERVICE WOULD ALSO BE DRAWING ON THE WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE IN DEPARTMENTS.

AIR. HOWLANDS