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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1980
LASTLY, MR NEWBIGGING SAID HE DID NOT ACCEPT STATEMENTS BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS THAT ONLY LIMITED ADDITIONAL LAND WAS AVAILABLE, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE POINTED OUT THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT FOUND DIFFICULTY IN PROVIDING EITHER RAW OR FORMED LAND WITH THE ACCOMPANYING INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES, THEN IT SHOULD TURN THE JOB OVER TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR EVEN IF IT WAS IN THE FORM OF SEABED OR OLD RESERVOIRS, WITH A REQUIREMENT AT LEAST TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ROADS.
HE NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THIS BILL WOULD NOT PLEASE OR SATISFY ALL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, MOST RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS WOULD ACCEPT IT IF THEY WERE CONVINCED THAT IT WAS TEMPORARY.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TILL THE NEXT SITTING OF THE COUNCIL.
GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS OPEN MIND TOWARDS REASONABLE STAFF REQUESTS
*****
IN DEALING WITH STAFF DISPUTES, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO MAINTAIN AN OPEN MIND AND A SYMPATHETIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS ALL REASONABLE STAFF REQUESTS, BUT THE PRIME CONSIDERATION MUST BE TO ENSURE THAT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC ARE NOT DISRUPTED AND THAT THE OVERALL PUBLIC INTEREST IS NOT IMPAIRED, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ANDREW SO, MR ROWLANDS DREW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE VAST BULK OF THE CIVIL SERVICE WAS GOING ABOUT ITS DAILY BUSINESS QUIETLY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY.
HE ALSO AFFIRMED THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE DID RECOGNISE ITS OVERRIDING DUTY TO DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO MAINTAIN, AT ALL TIMES AND EFFICIENTLY, THE VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES WHICH ARE SO ́NECESSARY FOR THE STABILITY AND WELL BEING OF HONG KONG.
+AT THE SAME TIME, THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RECOGNISES ITS SPECIAL OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE THE STAFF OF THE CIVIL SERVICE WITH FAIR RENUMERATION AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, SATISFACTORY WORKING CONDITIONS AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT,
HE ADDED.
+MOST DISPUTES WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE HAVE THE IR ORIGINS IN PROBLEMS OF MANAGEMENT, AND RESOLUTE ACTION IS BEING TAKEN TO STRENGTHEN MANAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE CIVIL SERVICE.
+MOST DISPUTES SPILL OVER INTO QUESTIONS OF PAY, AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ADVICE OF THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IS SOUGHT, HE EXPLAINED.
HE NOTED THAT IN RECENT MONTHS THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE INSTANCES OF DISPUTES AFFECTING SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
THE DISRUPTIVE
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