XN000022-1981-10-07 — Page 17

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1981

LONG-TE".

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ANPOWER PLANNING TO OFFSET PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE:

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THE GOVERNMENT IS DEVELOPING LONG-TERM MANPOWER PLANNING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UN..ERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC TO COUNTER THE SHORTAGE OF TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL MANPOWER.

REVIEWING THE PUBLIC SERVICE IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVER. OR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID THAT AT THE SAME TIME NEW ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED FOR EXTENSIONS OF SERVICE TO BE GRANTED AFTER THE AGE OF 55 TO ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT DEPRIVE ITSELF OF THE CONTRIBUTION THAT EFFICIENT AND EXPERIENCED OFFICERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN SENIOR RANKS, CAN MAKE.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONTINUED TO PUT A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT IN BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE, COMMITTED AND WELL TRAINED PUBLIC SERVICE, AND TO IMPROVING CONDITIONS AND STAFF RELATIONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THE HOME PURCHASE SCHEME FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION TO RENT ALLOWANCES WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, HE SAID.

THIS WAS A NEW DEPARTURE, HE ADDED, AND WE MUST SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT IN PRACTICE UNDER PRESENT FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE SCHEME IS RIGHT IN PRINCIPLE. +

+ BUT

SIR MURRAY SAID THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE HAD PLAYED A KEY PART IN IMPROVING CIVIL SERVICE CONDITONS AND STAFF RELATIONS. +ITS WORK IS BOTH HARD AND PAINSTAKING AND IT IS STEADILY RATIONALISING THE STRUCTURE AND SALARY LEVELS OF THE SERVICE.+

AMONGST THE NEW MEASURES INTRODUCED, THE GOVERNOR NOTED, WERE THE PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL FOR JUNIOR CIVIL SERVANTS, THE SETTING-UP OF MORE DEPARTMENTAL STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS, AND THE CREATION OF NEW STAFF RELATIONS AND MANAGEMENT UNITS IN THE LARGER DEPARTMENTS.

SIR MURRAY ALSO REFERRED TO THE CIVIL SERVANTS' ADVISORY OFFICE SET UP IN MARCH THIS YEAR TO DEAL WITH THE LONG-STANDING PROBLEM OF INDEBTEDNESS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

IN THE FIRST SIX

WERE RECEIVED AND OVER

:

NTHS OF ITS OPERATION, 3 019 APPLICATIONS 38.5 MILLION WORTH OF LOANS WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE OFFICE TO THE PA TICIPATING BANKS FOR FINANCING.

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