XN000022-1984-04-25 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1984

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MR YAXLEY SAID THE GOVERNMENT DID RECOGNISE THE NEED FOR THE CO-ORDINATION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE VARIOUS BODIES.

+THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD DISCUSSED THIS RECENTLY

AND ITS CONSENSUS WAS THAT EXISTING RESOURCES SHOULD BE USED AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE.

+SPECIFIC PROPOSALS ON HOW THIS SHOULD BE DONE, AND HOW VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES COULD BE FUNDED, ARE BEING EXAMINED.

THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF INDUSTRY WILL BE TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT IN THAT EXAMINATION, MR YAXLEY SAID.

CIVIL SERVANTS APPRECIATE ROLE IN ECONOMY

*****

CIVIL SERVANTS OF ALL RANKS APPRECIATE THEIR ROLE IN THE ECONOMY OF HONG KONG, IN TERMS OF THEIR OWN COST TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION IN RETURN, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS SAID AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR ROWLANDS SAID THAT THIS YEAR THE CIVIL SERVICE WOULD AGAIN BE MAKING ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY BY TAKING ON ADDITIONAL WORK WITHOUT A PROPORTIONATE INCREASE IN STAFF.

IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET DEBATE, MR ROWLANDS TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT OF THE 60 GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, 35 (58 PER CENT) WOULD BE EXPERIENCING ZERO OR CLOSE-TO-ZERO GROWTH IN STAFF DURING 1983-84.

DURING FISCAL 1984-85, THIS NUMBER WILL BE 34 (57 PER CENT), WHILE 16 OF THEM ARE EXPECTED TO SHOW SAVINGS IN STAFF.

+I DO NOT BELIEVE WE COULD ACHIEVE RESULTS OF THIS ORDER FOR TWO YEARS IN SUCCESSION WITHOUT THE COOPERATION OF STAFF ASSOCIATIONS AND OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF STAFF,+ HE SAID.

THE HON PETER POON HAD QUESTIONED WHETHER THE CIVIL SERVICE MIGHT BE +TOO LARGE FOR OUR NEEDS+, AND HAD URGED AN +IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE WHOLE CIVIL SERVICE STRUCTURE+.

IN REPLY, MR ROWLANDS SAID, BUT THE SIZE AND STRUCTURE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IS A FUNCTION OF PUBLIC POLICY AND HAS EVOLVED IN RESPONSE TO DECISIONS MADE IN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

+TO ACHIEVE ANY REALLY SUBSTANTIAL STAFF SAVINGS IN THE SHORT TERM, OR TO FORESTALL FURTHER SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN THE LONGER TERM, I BELIEVE IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REVIEW THE UNDERLYING PUBLIC POLICIES THEMSELVES. PARTICULARLY AS THE DEMAND FOR PUBLIC SERVICES CONTINUES TO GROW IN BOTH SCOPE AND AMOUNT.+

/DR ROWLANDS