XN000022-1981-07-31 — Page 7

FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1981

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IMPROVED CAREER PROSPECTS IN CUSTOMS AND EXCISE

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THE RECENT REORGANISATION AND MODERNISATION OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE HAS GREATLY ENHANCED THE CAREER PROSPECTS OF THE MORE JUNIOR RANKS, SAID ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER MR WALTER NEIL TODAY (JULY 31).

PRESENTING LETTERS OF PROMOTION TO 40 CHIEF CUSTOMS OFFICERS AT A SPECIAL CEREMONY HELD IN THE SERVICE'S RUMSEY STREET OFFICES, MR NEIL SAID +WE HAVE HAD AN ELEVEN-FOLD INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHIEF CUSTOMS OFFICER POSTS, BUT MOST OF THE EXTRA 40 POSTS HAVE BEEN CREATED AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE TAXPAYER. THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE RE-APPRAISED THE ROLE OF THE CHIEF CUSTOMS OFFICER AND RE-ALLOCATED DUTIES FORMERLY UNDERTAKEN BY INSPECTORS+.

+THE GENERAL STANDARD AND ABILITY OF JUNIOR GRADES HAS IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY IN RECENT YEARS, AND WE FEEL THEY ARE QUITE CAPABLE OF PERFORMING MORE MEANINGFUL DUTIES AND DESERVING OF BETTER PROMOTION OPPORTUNITIES+.

SEVERAL OF THE NEW CHIEF CUSTOMS OFFICERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WELFARE AND DISCIPLINE AMONG THE LOWER RANKS, WHILE OTHERS WILL MAN OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS CENTRES OR SUPERVISE THE CONTROL OF DUTIABLE COMMODITIES IN LICENSED AND BONDED WAREHOUSES.

+WHILE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY MUST REMAIN OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE, WE ARE ALSO VERY MUCH CONCERNED WITH THE NEED TO PROVIDE A WORTHWHILE CAREER FOR THOSE WHO JOIN OUR SERVICE. I BELIEVE WE ARE NOW MEETING BOTH REQUIREMENTS+, CONCLUDED MR NEIL.

CONTRACTS FOR OVERSEAS DOMESTIC WORKERS

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WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS FROM OVERSEAS WILL BE ATTESTED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR ONLY IF THE WAGES TO BE PAID ARE NOT BELOW THE MARKET RATE OF $1 200 TO $1 350 A MONTH, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STATED TODAY.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A GENERAL INCREASE IN THE WAGES OF LOCAL DOMESTIC HELPERS AND THE FACT THAT THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION WILL NOT APPROVE THE ENTRY OF DOMESTIC HELPERS FROM OVERSEAS UNLESS THEY ARE PAID THE CURRENT MARKET RATE.

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