XN000022-1979-09-25 — Page 8

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1979

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HE SAID THAT IT WAS IN THE COMMUNITY'S INTEREST THAT ABLE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WERE MADE AWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE IN GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IT OFFERS THEM IN MAKING A CAREER IN THIS SERVICE.

MR. TSANG SAID ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS WERE CONCERNED WITH THE CO-ORDINATION AND FORMULATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES AT VARIOUS LEVELS, WITH OVERSEEING THE IR IMPLEMENTATION AND WITH CONTROL OF THE RESOURCES INVOLVED.

+THEY ARE SPECIALLY CONCERNED WITH THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTENTS OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES, HE SAID.

+THE TYPICAL ROLE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE SECRETARIAT IS TO COLLATE AND ANALYSE THE VARIOUS ISSUES INVOLVED IN A PROPOSAL REQUIRING A POLICY DECISION, TO RELATE THESE ISSUES TO POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND TO RECOMMEND A COURSE OF ACTION, HE ADDED.

THERE ARE NOW 260 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS WORKING IN

22 DEPARTMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.

MR. TSANG GAVE AN OUTLINE OF WHAT THE SELECTION BOARDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS LOOK FOR.

HE SAID IN ADDITION TO A GOOD HONOURS UNIVERSITY DEGREE, CANDIDATES SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

* CLEAR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENCE,

A CRITICAL AND ANALYTICAL MIND,

* CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF

INDIVIDUALS,

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A WELL DEVELOPED SENSE OF JUSTICE,

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A DETERMINATION TO GET RESULTS,

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A POTENTIAL ABILITY TO COMMAND AND TO LEAD OTHERS,

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A TOLERANCE OF THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS WHERE

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES ARE NOT INVOLVED,

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A BROAD OUTLOOK, AND

VERSATILITY AND ADAPTABILITY.

MR. TSANG POINTED OUT THAT A CAREER IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE OFFERED SUFFICIENT MATERIAL REWARDS TO MAINTAIN A COMFORTABLE STANDARD OF LIVING,

THE STARTING SALARY FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER WITHOUT ANY WORKING EXPERIENCE IS $4 980, RISING TO $21 300 FOR A SECRETARY, THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN THE DIRECTORATE RANK.

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