XN000022-1984-09-13 — Page 2

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1984

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GOVERNOR TO OPEN SENIOR STAFF COURSE

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MANAGEMENT TRAINING OF GOVERNMENT OFFICERS WILL TAKE A MAJOR STEP FORWARD TOMORROW WITH THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SENIOR STAFF COURSE BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE.

THE NEW COURSE IS AIMED AT OFFICERS AT ABOUT THE TOP OF THE MASTER PAY SCALE AND IN THE LOWER POINTS OF THE DIRECTORATE PAY SCALE. NEARLY 230 PEOPLE APPLIED FOR THE FIRST TWO COURSES AND OF THESE 32 WERE SELECTED FOR THE FIRST COURSE.

THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE CHINA FLEET CLUB AUDITORIUM, SUN HUNG KAI CENTRE, WAN CHAI, AT 3.30 PM.

THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE NEW COURSE IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THAT FOUND IN MORE ROUTINE MANAGEMENT TRAINING. THE EMPHASIS IS ON ACTION LEARNING +DEALING WITH REAL LIFE PROBLEMS IN THE REAL WORLD RATHER THAN ACADEMIC PROJECTS, SAID MR IVOR THOMAS, STAFF TUTOR.

THIS APPROACH ENTAILS EACH MEMBER DEFINING HIS OWN GOALS AND NEEDS AND THEN DECIDING, WITH SUPPORT, HOW HE WILL ACHIEVE THESE. ABOUT 45 PER CENT OF THE THREE-MONTH COURSE IS SPENT ON PROJECTS, BOTH GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL. THERE ARE ALSO 19 ELECTIVE SUBJECTS ON SUCH TOPICS AS STRESS MANAGEMENT, RUNNING MEETINGS AND PLANNING.

THE COURSE ALSO CATERS FOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE FIRST SESSION WILL INCLUDE MANAGERS FROM KEYSTONE ELECTRON ICS, CHINA LIGHT AND POWER, THE ENGLISH SCHOOLS FOUNDATION AND CABLE AND WIRELESS. A WIDE SPECTRUM OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IS REPRESENTED, INCLUDING MEDICAL AND HEALTH, LABOUR, POLICE, LANDS, HOUSING, INDUSTRY, IMMIGRATION AND MANY OTHERS.

GREEN PAPER PROVIDES BALANCED APPROACH

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THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER REPRESENT A BALANCED APPROACH IN ACHIEVING A REPRESENTATIVE AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR EDDY CHAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING, HE SAID THAT IN THE PAST TWO YEARS A LOT OF CHANGES HAD TAKEN PLACE, WITH DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS IN 1982, AND THE FIRST CONSTITUENCY-BASED ELECTIONS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL IN 1983.

+NOBODY CAN DENY THAT THESE CHANGES HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ANY FURTHER REFORMS MUST BE CARRIED OUT IN PHASES TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW SYSTEM,+ HE SAID.

/+HAVING REGARD .................