XN000022-1984-01-11 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1984

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UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION, IN ADDITION, IS A PROPOSAL THAT PLANS TO PROVIDE FOR CORRECTLY DESIGNED PIPING TO FACILITATE THE SUPPLY OF PIPED GAS INTO ALL NEW BUILDINGS, HE ADDED.

+AND WE INTEND TO INTRODUCE A MAJOR PIECE OF GAS LEGISLATION TO REGULATE THE MANUFACTURE, STORAGE, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND UTILISATION OF GAS FUELS, HE SAID.

PUBLIC SERVICE MORALE HIGH ROWLANDS

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DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE PAST YEAR THE MORALE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE, INCLUDING THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES, REMAINS HIGH, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS, SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, SAID TODAY.

+ INDEED I DO NOT RECALL IT HAVING BEEN HIGHER THAN IT IS NOW : THE FACT IS THAT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING A THOROUGHLY PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND WE DO NOT ALLOW EXTRANEOUS EVENTS TO AFFECT OUR WORK, HE SAID.

MR ROWLANDS WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI WHO ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO STATE WHAT MEASURES ARE BEING TAKEN TO ENHANCE MORALE IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, ESPECIALLY IN THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF GOVERNMENT'S STATED POLICY TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY, AND AT THE SAME TIME TO RESTRICT THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.

MR ROWALNDS ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT RESTRICTIONS ON THE GROWTH OF THE SERVICE COULD ADD TO THE PRESSURES ON THE INDIVIDUAL CIVIL SERVANT, AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS THEREFORE TAKING CONCERTED ACTION TO COMBAT THIS.

+ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE NOW ENGAGED ON PROJECTS AIMED SPECIFICALLY AT INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY BY SUCH MEANS AS SIMPLER WORK PROCESSES, LABOUR SAVING EQUIPMENT AND IMPROVED MANNING SCHEDULES.

+STAFF ARE PARTICIPATING IN THESE PROJECTS WHEREVER POSSIBLE, SO THAT IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCTIVITY ARE BEING ACHIEVED WITH THE SUPPORT OF STAFF, AND SOMETIMES ON THEIR INITIATIVE. THE RESULT IN MANY CASES IS JOB ENRICHMENT, AND THIS WE FIND IS ALMOST INVARIABLY GOOD FOR MORALE, HE SAID.

GOOD MANAGEMENT, MR ROWLANDS SAID, BECOMES EVER MORE IMPORTANT AS WORKLOADS GROW WITHOUT ATTENDANT INCREASES IN STAFF.

+WE ARE THEREFORE PRESSING AHEAD WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO STAFF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, AND PLACING RENEWED EMPHASIS ON TRAINING IN SUPERVISORY SKILLS.

+CONSULTATION WITH STAFF IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AND WE ARE NOW MAK ING FULL AND, I BELIEVE, EFFECTIVE USE OF THE CENTRAL AND DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY WHICH WE HAVE BUILT UP

IN RECENT YEARS.

+THROUGH THIS MACHINERY WE ARE ABLE TO EXPLAIN OUR PRESENT POLICIES, TO DISCUSS WITH STAFF THEIR REACTIONS TO THEM, AND THEN TO PROCEED IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE STAFF SIDE SUPPORT.

+AS PART