XN000022-1982-06-16 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1982

JEFEDERAL ISATION OF TICD ON SCHEDULE

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ALL MAJOR DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN ON THE DEFEDERALISATION OF THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT AND ITS RESTRUCTURING IS PROCEEDING ON SCHEDULE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-TAVE, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY IN ANSWER TO A QUERY BY THE HON MISS LYDIA DUNN.

AFTER DEFEDERAL ISATION THERE WILL BE THREE SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS: AN INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, A TRADE DEPARTMENT AND A CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, WITH STAFF AND RESPONSIBILITIES MATCHING THOSE OF THE THREE SUB-DEPARTMENTS IN THE EXISTING FEDERAL DEPARTMENT, SIR PHILIP EXPLAINED.

A POLICY BRANCH, TO BE KNOWN AS THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY BRANCH, WILL BE SET UP WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, WITH A SMALL STAFF DRAWN FROM THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH AND THE PRESENT DEPARTMENT, SIR PHILIP SAID.

THIS BRANCH WILL HAVE POLICY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND THE TRADE DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT'S DUTIES ON TRADE CONTROLS AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF TRADE OBLIGATIONS.

IN ADDITION, THE NEW BRANCH WILL BE THE HOUSEKEEPING OR PARENT BRANCH FOR THE THREE SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS WHICH WILL REMAIN ANSWERABLE TO THE FINANCE BRANCH AND THE SECURITY BRANCH FOR PARTICULAR FUNCTIONS PERFORMED FOR THOSE BRANCHES, SIR PHILIP SAID.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OVERSEAS OFFICES IN WASHINGTON, BRUSSELS AND GENEVA WILL BE ASSUMED BY THE COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AS AN INITIAL STEP TRANSLATING THEM FROM DEPARTMENTAL SUB-OFFICES OVERSEAS INTO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, HE SAID.

THESE OFFICES WILL BE +COMPARABLE IN STATUS, IF NOT IN RANGE OF FUNCTIONS, WITH OUR LONDON OFFICE+ WHOSE PARENT DEPARTMENT IS THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, HE EXPLAINED.

THE NEW DEPARTMENTS WILL REMAIN IN OCEAN CENTRE, ALTHOUGH CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO MOVING THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND HIS IMMEDIATE STAFF TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE IN THE SUN HUNG KAI CENTRE.

+ IN KEEPING WITH THE GENERAL POLICY THAT ALL SECRETARIES AND THE IR BRANCHES SHOULD BE ACCOMMODATED TOGETHER, THE TRADE AND

INDUSTRY BRANCH WILL EVENTUALLY BE LOCATED WITH THE REST OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

+BUT SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION CANNOT BE MADE AVAILABLE UNTIL EARLY 1983. IN THE MEANTIME. THE SECRETARY AND HIS BRANCH WILL OPERATE FROM OCEAN CENTRE, HE ADDED.