XN000022-1984-03-29 — Page 18

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984

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WELL THOUGHT-OUT BUDGET CHAN YING-LUN

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THE HON CHAN YING-LUN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PRESENTED A GENERALLY WELL THOUGHT-OUT AND BALANCED BUDGET. THIS, HE SAID, WAS NO EASY TASK, PARTICULARLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, HE SAID HE HOPED THAT NEXT YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WOULD LOOK TOWARDS THE RICH, THE REAL RICH+, FOR MORE TAXATION.

MR CHAN ALSO REFERRED TO THE CIVIL SERVICE AND DISTRICT ACTIVITIES, TO ILLUSTRATE HOW RESOURCES COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVELY UTILISED.

HE SAID HE KNEW THAT MANY OF THE CIVIL SERVANTS +WERE AS CONCERNED AND WORRIED OVER THE FUTURE AS ANYBODY ELSE+ AND URGED THAT MEASURES BE TAKEN +TO ALLAY THEIR CONCERN+ SO AS TO MAINTAIN A COHERENT SERVICE.

+THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS STABILISING OUR SYSTEM. THE FAITH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR A BETTER HONG KONG IRRESPECTIVE OF FUTURE CHANGES IS ESSENTIAL TO THE CONTINUATION OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

+1, THEREFORE, URGE THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENSURE THAT APPROPRIATE STEPS BE TAKEN, IF THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN TAKEN, TO ALLAY CIVIL SERVANTS' CONCERN AND POSSIBLE FEARS OF THE FUTURE, AND TO REASSURE THE FUTURE PROSPECTS OF OUR CIVIL SERVICE,+ HE SAID.

MR CHAN AGREED WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S PLAN TO KEEP ANNUAL CIVIL SERVICE GROWTH OVERALL TO BELOW 2-1/2 PER CENT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND TO PROVIDE STAFF FOR NEW FACILITIES BY INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND REDELOYMENT.

HE SUGGESTED THAT IT SHOULD BE A CONTINUING PROCESS FOR EXISTING DEPARTMENTAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROCEDURES TO BE REVIEWED, UPDATED, SIMPLIFIED AND STREAMLINED, AND THAT A SPECIAL REVIEW TEAM BE ATTACHED TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF EXCESSIVELY COMPLICATED PROCEDURES REQUIRING URGENT ATTENTION AND TO CONDUCT ANNUAL REVIEW EXERCISES.

+THIS TEAM SHOULD COMPRISE STAFF DEPLOYED FROM THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION, THE CORRUPTION PREVENTION DEPARTMENT OF THE ICAC AND EXPERIENCED ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS. ALTERNATIVELY, CONTROLLING OFFICERS COULD BE DIRECTED TO REVIEW THEIR AREAS OF ACTIVITIES AND TO REPORT TO THIS COUNCIL MANPOWER SAVING PROCEDURES THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED DURING THE YEAR, HE SAID.

MR CHAN NOTED THE REDUCED SPENDING ON OVERSEAS TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS, AND SUGGESTED THAT A TRAINING PROGRAMME IN MANAGEMENT BE SET UP FOR CIVIL SERVANTS,

/+THIS TYPE