XN000022-1982-06-16 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1982

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TRAINING OF CIVIL SERVANTS

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TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON THE TRAINING OF OFFICERS IN THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND LABOUR DEPARTMENTS AMOUNTED TO $2.4 MILLION IN 1980-81 AND TO $4.3 MILLION IN 1981-82 WHILE THE ESTIMATED COST FOR 1982-83 IS $4.1 MILLION, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS, SAID IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON WONG PO-YAN AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THESE OFFICERS RECEIVING TRAINING EXCLUDE EXECUTIVE, CLERICAL AND OTHER SUPPORT STAFF.

THE THREE DEPARTMENTS, MR ROWLANDS POINTED OUT, DIRECTLY CONCERNED WITH HONG KONG'S TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY

ARE MOST MATTERS ALTHOUGH MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS EXERCISE SOME RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL.

THE FIGURES CITED BY MR ROWLANDS REPRESENT ABOUT ONE PER CENT OF TOTAL CIVIL SERVICE TRAINING EXPENDITURE IN EACH OF THE THREE YEARS.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STAFF IN THE THREE DEPARTMENTS HAS REMAINED STEADY AT ABOUT ONE PER CENT OF THE TOTAL CIVIL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT, HE SAID.

THE TRAINING PROGRAMMES INCLUDE LOCAL AND OVERSEAS COURSES AND ATTACHMENTS, WHICH COVER COMMERCIAL POLICY, INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT. INDUSTRIAL SAFETY IS A KEY ELEMENT IN THE TRAINING COURSES FOR MEMBERS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S FACTORY INSPECTORATE.

+MUCH ADDITIONAL EFFORT GOES INTO ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, AIDED BY IN-HOUSE FAMILIARISATION PROGRAMMES, AS WELL AS BY DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCEDURAL MANUALS.

+STAFF OF THE THREE DEPARTMENTS REGULARLY ATTEND OVERSEAS CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS AT WHICH MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG'S TRADE AND INDUSTRY, INCLUDING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, ARE DISCUSSED, MR ROWLANDS SAID.

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