XN000022-1982-03-25 — Page 2

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1982

NEED FOR MANPOWER PLANNING STRESSED

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THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS IN LOCALISATION STAND IN DANGER OF BEING ERODED UNLESS THERE IS A MORE COHERENT AND BETTER CO-ORDINATED MANPOWER PLANNING AND TRAINING PROGRAMME, DR THE HON HARRY FANG WARNED TODAY.

HE SAID THE RAPID EXPANSION IN MANY FIELDS OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN RECENT YEARS HAD UNDOUBTEDLY EXACERBATED THE DEMAND FOR QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

BUT HE THOUGHT THAT THESE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATED, ADDING THAT THE LOCALISATION POLICY IS TOO IMPORTANT A MATTER TO BE LEFT TO A +HIT AND MISS+ CHANCE.

+ I DO NOT NEED TO POINT TO THE OBVIOUS SOLUTION OF INCREASING TRAINING CAPACITIES, BOTH IN LOCAL TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, THROUGH DEPARTMENTAL IN-SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMMES AND BY ENCOURAGING OVERSEAS TRAINING.

+BUT IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED LOCAL PERSONNEL INTO THE CIVIL SERVICE, SAID DR FANG,

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER WHETHER INTERNAL RELATIVITIES MUST BE MAINTAINED AT ALL COSTS OR WHETHER IN SELECTED AREAS OF SERIOUS SHORTAGES, IT SHOULD CONSIDER GRANTING ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE ALLOWANCES IN ORDER TO ATTRACT QUALITY PERSONNEL.

IN ADDITION, HE WENT ON, THE BASIC RECRUITMENT QUALIFICATIONS MIGHT BE REVIEWED TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE REALISTIC, PRACTICABLE AND FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO ATTRACT THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

+1 REFER HERE BOTH TO ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS, + DR FANG EXPLAINED. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TEN YEARS' EXPERIENCE REQUIRED OF MAGISTRATES MAKES IT PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE TO COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.+

AS REGARDS LONG-TERM MANPOWER PLANNING, DR FANG SAID STEPS MUST BE TAKEN TO MANAGE OUR EXISTING HUMAN RESOURCES BETTER AND TO REDUCE WASTAGE.

ONE OF THE WAYS OF GOING ABOUT THIS, HE SAID, IS TO PROVIDE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY MANAGERIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE IR CAREERS.

HOWEVER, HE ADDED, PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE FOR SOME OFFICERS WHO PREFER TO WORK IN THEIR OWN SPECIALITIES RATHER THAN ASSUME ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES TO REMAIN IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL FIELDS WITHOUT SACRIFICING PROMOTION PROSPECTS.

+IN THIS WAY, BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY STAND TO REAP THE FULL BENEFITS FROM THE CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE GONE INTO TRAINING THESE PERSONNEL,+ HE SAID,

/DR FANG ALSO