XN000022-1980-03-26 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 195

HE NOTED THE NEW SYSTEM WOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES:

*

*

*

DEPARTMENT HEADS WILL HAVE GREATER RESPONSIBILITY AND FREEDOM TO SHAPE THEIR OWN DEPARTMENTS.

NEW POSTS CAN BE CREATED WITHIN A DEPARTMENT WITH MUCH LESS DELAY THAN HITHERTO POSSIBLE.

IT WILL STIMULATE EACH DEPARTMENT TO EXAMINE ALL FUNCTIONS AT PRESENT UNDERTAKEN BY IT AND TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY ARE ALL NECESSARY, AND ARE GETTING THE RIGHT PRIORITY.

* ARISING FROM THE EXAMINATION, A DEPARTMENT CAN DECIDE

WHAT REDEPLOYMENTS MIGHT SENSIBLY BE MADE.

* TO FREE THE FINANCE BRANCH TO A LARGE EXTENT TO

CONDUCT REVIEWS IN DEPTH OF THE OVERALL POSITION OF EACH DEPARTMENT. THEY MAY BE STRENGTHENED BY INVOLVING THE STAFF OF THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH OR ORGANISATION AND METHOD SECTION AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS, AND

* TO FREE THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE TO A LARGE

EXTENT TO CONDUCT MEANINGFUL REVIEWS IN DEPTH OF THE STAFF NEEDS OF EACH DEPARTMENT, HOPEFULLY, ONCE IN ABOUT EVERY THREE YEARS.

ALTHOUGH SOME TEETHING TROUBLES MAY ARISE FROM THE NEW SYSTEM, MR LO SAID: +1 TRUST THAT GIVEN GOODWILL ON THE PART OF EVERYONE CONCERNED IT WILL TURN OUT TO BE A WORKABLE SYSTEM AND A VAST IMPROVEMENT ON THE PRESENT PROCEDURE.

EARLIER, MR LO EXPLAINED THAT REQUESTS FROM DEPARTMENTS WERE AT PRESENT PUT TO THE FINANCE BRANCH FOR EXAMINATION BEFORE THEY WERE SUBMITTED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER SCRUTINY AND THEN FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT, THERE ARE WEAKNESSES IN THIS PROCEDURE WHICH HAS CHANGED LITTLE IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.

THEY ARE:

* IT TAKES AWAY THE INCENTIVES FOR A DEPARTMENT TO

EXAMINE WHETHER A FUNCTION FOUND NECESSARY 10 YEARS AGO IS STILL NEEDED TODAY AND TO FULLY UTILISE THE TIME OF A HOLDER OF A POST, THUS RESULTING IN A NUMBER OF POSTS BECOMING REDUNDANT.

* THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE OR THE FINANCE

BRANCH, INUNDATED WITH SUBMISSIONS FOR POSTS, FINDS IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO EXAMINE THE OVERALL MANNING POSITION OF A DEPARTMENT, AND

* GIVEN THE LIMITED MANPOWER RESOURCES OF THE FINANCE BRANCH AND THE VAST NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS, A BOTTLE NECK IS OBVIOUSLY BUILDING UP AND THE TIME GAP BETWEEN DEPARTMENTAL SUBMISSION AND FINANCE

COMMITTEE APPROVAL IS LENGTHENING, THEREBY RESULTING IN INADEQUATE SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

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