XN000022-1982-11-11 — Page 5

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1982

+HIS RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE KEEPING UNDER REVIEW COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH MAY AFFECT HONG KONG'S INTERESTS, IN CONCERT WITH THE COUNSELLOR (HONG KONG COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS) IN WASHINGTON, SIR PHILIP SAID.

THE TRADE COMMISSIONER WILL ALSO CONTROL AND COORDINATE THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKES DIRECTLY IN THE UNITED STATES MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE OFFICES OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION IN THE UNITED STATES: DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT HONG KONG AND ESTABLISH PERSONAL CONTACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATION WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING HONG KONG'S IMAGE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

+THE OFFICER SELECTED TO FILL THIS POST IS MR W. DORWARD WHO WILL TAKE UP THIS APPOINTMENT IN APRIL NEXT YEAR, HE SAID.

SIR PHILIP SAID THE EXPANSION OF THE PRESENT ROLE OF OUR BRUSSELS OFFICE, WHICH IS ALREADY HEADED BY AN OFFICER WITH THE DIPLOMATIC RANK OF MINISTER, WOULD FOLLOW LATER ON.

+THE REORGANISATION OF THE SECRETARIAT WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND A WORKING GROUP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE DIRECTOR, COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH, IS NOW WORKING OUT ALL THE DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS RELATING TO SCHEDULES OF BUSINESS, STAFFING, ACCOMMODATION AND OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP OF ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES, SUBJECT TO ONE OVER-RIDING PROVISO THAT THERE IS TO BE NO NET INCREASE IN STAFF AS A RESULT OF THESE CHANGES.+

HE SAID OTHER CHANGES WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BECOME NECESSARY FAIRLY SOON. FOR INSTANCE, HE ADDED, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO CREATE A SMALL UNIT WITHIN THE SECRETARIAT, PROBABLY ATTACHED TO THE COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH AND RESPONSIBLE TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY, TO COORDINATE THE USE OF GOVERNMENT'S SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESOURCES (EXCLUDING THOSE IN THE ENGINEERING AND MEDICAL FIELDS), IN A MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.

SIR PHILIP ALSO REFERRED TO THE RECENT CREATION OF A NEW POST OF SECRETARY (GENERAL DUTIES), FILLED BY MR LEWIS DAVIES, TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHIEF SECRETARY IN DEALING WITH ADDITIONAL WORK ARISING FROM THE TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

+ASSOCIATED WITH THE RE-ORGANISATION OF POLICY BRANCH SCHEDULES WHICH HAVE DESCRIBED, BUT ALSO NECESSARY IN ITS OWN RIGHT, A SHORT AND MEDIUM-TERM POSTINGS PLOT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED ON THE BASIS OF THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE THAT THERE IS AN OPTIMUM PERIOD FOR SERVICE IN ANY POST, PARTICULARLY A SENIOR ONE AND REGARD HAS BEEN HAD TO THE OPEN DIRECTORATE CONCEPT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING THE 'ADMINISTRATIVISATION' OF THE DIRECTORATE STAFF OF THE FORMER TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT A REALITY BY CROSS-POSTINGS, + HE SAID.

ALL THOSE POSTINGS WOULD BE ANNOUNCED IN A SERIES OF PRESS STATEMENTS AND INTERNAL CIRCULARS, IN DUE COURSE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY ADDED.

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