XN000022-1982-04-15 — Page 4

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1982

ليا

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SIR PHILIP SAID IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO WORK OUT DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE DECISIONS, BUT THE INTENTION WAS THAT THE NEW BRANCH AND THE NEWLY INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENTS SHOULD BE OPERATIONAL BY JULY.

NO FIRM DECISION HAD YET BEEN TAKEN AS TO WHICH BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CUSTOMS AND CONTROLS DEPARTMENT, BUT THE SECURITY BRANCH AND FINANCE BRANCH WERE TWO OBVIOUS CANDIDATES.

IT HAD ALSO BEEN DECIDED, SIR PHILIP SAID, THAT ALL DIRECTORATE POSTS IN THE NEW TRADE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENTS SHOULD BE CONVERTED TO STAFF GRADE POSTS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE, WHILE DIRECTORATE POSTS IN THE CUSTOMS AND CONTROLS DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROGRESSIVELY CONVERTED TO PROFESSIONAL POSTS IN THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE.

+ALL DEPARTMENTAL DIRECTORATE OFFICERS IN THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENTS WILL BE OFFERED TRANSFER TERMS TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE IN RANKS EQUIVALENT TO THE IR EXISTING RANKS,+ HE SAID.

THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTION WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AND LIABLE TO POSTING TO ANY POST DESIGNATED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE POST.

EQUALLY, HE ADDED, ALL PRESENT STAFF GRADE MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE MAY BE POSTED TO DIRECTORATE POSTS IN THESE TWO NEW DEPARTMENTS.

+THIS DECISION IS IN LINE WITH THE POLICY OF PROGRESSIVELY MAKING ALL DIRECTORATE LEVEL POSTS, WHEREVER PRACTICABLE, OPEN TO ALL SENIOR OFFICERS, BE THEY MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE OR OF DEPARTMENTAL CADRES,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.

SIR PHILIP ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT A WORKING PARTY IS TO BE SET UP TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A FULL-TIME IN-SERVICE COMMAND AND MANAGEMENT COURSE ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS FOR MID-CAREER OFFICERS IN BOTH COMMON SERVICE AND DEPARTMENTAL CADRES AND IN THE UNIFORMED SERVICES WITH

A VIEW TO PREPARING SUCH OFFICERS FOR DIRECTORATE LEVEL RESPONSIBILITIES.

THE WORKING PARTY IS TO BE CHAIRED BY MR LI FOOK-KOW, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION. DETAILS OF ITS COMPOSITION AND TERMS OF REFERENCE WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY, SIR PHILIP SAID.

RESPONDING TO CONCERN EXPRESSED DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ON THE GROWTH AND SIZE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, SIR PHILIP ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT COMPLACENT ABOUT THE COST-EFFICIENCY OF DEPARTMENTAL ESTABLISHMENTS.

/THE GOVERNMENT