XN000022-1985-03-28 — Page 15

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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1985

FOR EXAMPLE, MR CHAN SAID, IF MORE INCREASE ON AIRPORT TAX WERE TO BE CONTEMPLATED YET AGAIN, THIS WOULD ONLY HAVE A DAMPENING EFFECT ON THE TOURIST INDUSTRY AND ALSO REDUCE THE ENTHUSIASM OF OUR OWN PEOPLE IN SEEING THE OUTSIDE WORLD WHICH WAS SO IMPORTANT AN INCENTIVE FOR HARD WORK AND ALSO A PROCESS FOR THEM TO ACQUIRE A MORE COSMOPOLITAN OUTLOOK.

ON THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR CHAN SAID HE WAS GLAD TO LEARN THAT THE POLICY OF ZERO GROWTH HAD BEEN CAREFULLY FOLLOWED AND THAT STAFF REQUIRED FOR THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING SERVICES AND THE PROVISION OF NEW SERVICES WERE PROVIDED THROUGH REDEPLOYMENT, INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND ELIMINATING UNNECESSARY WORK THROUGH POLICY REVIEW.

WHILE HEARTILY ENDORSING THIS APPROACH, HE SUGGESTED THAT ALL CONTROLLING OFFICERS, IN PRESENTING THEIR ANNUAL ESTIMATES TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO OUTLINE THE IR EFFORTS MADE IN THE PRECEDING YEAR IN REDUCING COST AND INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY IN THEIR DEPARTMENTS.

+ IN THIS CONTEXT, AND IN ADDITION TO SENDING THEIR SENIOR OFFICERS TO ATTEND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COURSES APTLY ADVOCATED BY MY COLLEAGUE, MR S.L. CHEN, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT EACH CONTROLLING OFFICER SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED WILL BE PROPERLY PRACTISED AND IMPLEMENTED WITHIN HIS ORGANISATION AND THAT SPECIAL OFFICERS ARE ASSIGNED TO MONITOR THEIR PROGRESS IN THIS ASPECT,+ HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT CONTROLLING OFFICERS SHOULD ALSO MONITOR THE PRODUCTIVITY AND COURTESY OF CIVIL SERVANTS, MANY OF WHOM STILL HAD THE + IRON RICE BOWL MENTALITY.

MR CHAN ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE EXISTING SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWED CIVIL SERVANTS, NOT JUST THOSE WITH EXCEPTIONAL ABILITIES, TO CONTINUE WORKING BEYOND THE NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE AND RECEIVING THEIR PENSIONS AT THE SAME TIME.

WHILE HE DID NOT OBJECT TO THIS SYSTEM, HE QUESTIONED WHAT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S DEFINITION OF EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY, WHO DECIDED WHICH OFFICERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE BEYOND THE NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE AND WHAT HAD BEEN DONE TO ENSURE THAT YOUNGER OFFICERS WOULD BE ABLE TO SHOULDER FULLY THE RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN THE IR TURN EVENTUALLY CAME.

+WHILST I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD DO OUR BEST TO RETAIN THE EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TOWARDS THE SUCCESS OF OUR SOCIETY, I AM AFRAID I DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE IMPLICATION THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH QUALIFIED CONDIDATES TO REPLACE THEM.

+ IF SO, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SPENDING SO MUCH ON OUR TRAINING PROGRAMMES?+ MR CHAN ASKED.

/HE URGED