XN000022-1982-10-06 — Page 27

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1982

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CIVIL SERVICE GROWTH SET AT FOUR TO FIVE PER CENT

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A CEILING OF NO MORE THAN FOUR PER CENT TO FIVE PER CENT HAS BEEN SET, AS AN OVERALL GUIDELINE, ON THE GROWTH OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR AS AGAINST THE UPPER LIMIT OF 10 PER CENT ALLOWED FOR IN THE PRINTED ESTIMATES, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE SAID TODAY.

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SIR EDWARD SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT ALTHOUGH HE BELIEVED THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE TO BE ASSIDUOUS AND WELL MOTIVATED, HE WAS AWARE OF THE CONCERN AMONG MEMBERS THAT IT HAD EXPANDED TOO RAPIDLY.

THE TOTAL ESTABLISHMENT HAD GROWN FROM 98 000 POSTS IN 1972 TO NEARLY 170 000 POSTS IN APRIL THIS YEAR.

+SINCE THESE FIGURES ENCOMPASS THE STAFF OF THE POLICE FORCE THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE VARIOUS WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE MEDICAL AND NURSING SERVICES, THIS EXPANSION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IS HARDLY SURPRISING IN VIEW OF THE GROWTH IN VOLUME AND SCOPE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTIVITIES IN THESE AREAS.

+AS THE GOVERNMENT'S SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY ARE IMPROVED, SOME GROWTH IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE WILL STILL BE REQUIRED. BUT THE RATE OF GROWTH MUST NOW BE SLOWED DOWN, SIR EDWARD SAID.

+TO HELP ACHIEVE THIS, TIGHTER CONTROLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED ON THE CREATION OF NEW POSTS. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO INTENDS TO PLACE A RENEWED EMPHASIS ON THE VALUE-FOR-MONEY CRITERION= TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE HABIT OF AUTOMATICALLY REF ILLING POSTS WHENEVER THEY BECOME VACANT THROUGH RETIREMENT OR OTHER REASONS- AND TO KEEP UNDER CRITICAL REVIEW THE SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE AS A WHOLE.+

SIR EDWARD SAID THAT SEVERAL MAJOR CHANGES HAD BEEN MADE DURING THE PAST YEAR OR SO TO THE ORGANISATION OF GOVERNMENT'S INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION.

AND FURTHER ADMENDMENTS TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION, THE NETWORK OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THEM TO MEET CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES ARE BEING EXAMINED.

+THE OUTCOME WILL PROBABLY BE CHANGES IN THE SCHEDULES OF SOME POLICY 2RANCH SECRETARIES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MORE EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE GROUPINGS OF POLICY PROGRAMMES AND A BETTER BALANCE OF RESPONSIBILITIES. HE SAID,

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