XN000022-1987-03-25 — Page 35

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1987

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EFFECTIVE CO-ORDINATION BEHIND SECRETARY SYSTEM

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THE STRENGTH OF THE +SECRETARY+ SYSTEM LIES IN THE DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITY AMONG SECRETARIES ACCORDING TO PROGRAMME AREAS, NOT DEPARTMENTS, SO THAT THERE WAS EFFECTIVE CO-ORDINATION OF RELATED ACTIVITIES OF SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY THE HON DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CONRAD LAM, MR FORD SAID THAT THE SYSTEM WHICH FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 1973 MCK INSEY REPORT HAD SERVED THE ADMINISTRATION WELL.

+THE SYSTEM IS ALSO FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO ENABLE CHANGES IN PROGRAMMES TO BE MADE QUICKLY IN RESPONSE TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES

ES, HE SAID.

+OVER THE YEARS, THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANISATION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED FROM TIME TO TIME TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, + HE ADDED.

MR FORD EXPLAINED THAT WHILE IT WAS A FACT THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF KEY POLICY-MAKING OR SECRETARY POSTS WERE FILLED BY MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE GRADE, NOT ALL OF THEM WERE +GENERAL ISTS+ IN THE USUAL SENSE OF THE WORD.

SOME SECRETARIES WERE FORMERLY DEPARTMENTAL-PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS, SOME HAD A SPECIALIST BACKGROUND, WHILE OTHERS HAD DEVELOPED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EXPERTISE IN THE IR AREAS OF WORK DURING THEIR LONG CAREERS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE GRADE, HE SAID.

MR FORD POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL SECRETARY- EQUIVALENT OR D6 POSTS WHICH WERE DEPARTMENTAL RANKS.

AT THE DIRECTORATE LEVEL, HE SAID, POSTS WERE FILLED BY BOTH DEPARTMENTAL-PROFESSIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS.

+PARTICULAR EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON SUCCESSION PLANNING IN ALL DEPARTMENTS WITH A VIEW TO GROOMING OFFICERS WITH POTENTIAL FOR HIGHER OFFICE,+ HE SAID,

+THERE ARE INFORMAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR CROSS-POSTINGS BETWEEN DIFFERENT CAREER STREAMS, SO THAT THE MOST SUITABLE OFFICER IS SELECTED FOR THE JOB. +

THESE ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN ENDORSED BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AS BEING AN IMPORTANT MEANS OF MAKING THE BEST USE OF THE TALENT AVAILABLE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

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