XN000022-1989-11-08 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1989

NOTING THAT OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO MANY CIVIL SERVANTS WAS THE SECURITY OF THEIR PENSIONS. SIR DAVID SAID THE PAYMENT OF PENSIONS AFTER 1997 ON TERMS NO LESS FAVOURABLE THAN BEFORE WAS GUARANTEED BY THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTED THAT THIS GUARANTEE WOULD BE EMBODIED IN THE BASIC LAW.

"MOREOVER, PENSIONS ARE NOW A RIGHT AND ARE A STATUTORY CHARGE ON THE GENERAL REVENUE. PENSIONS WILL THEREFORE BE SECURE. NEVERTHELESS. IN THE LIGHT OF STAFF ANXIETY WE ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER MORE CAN BE DONE TO REASSURE THE CIVIL SERVICE ABOUT THEIR PENSIONS. SIR DAVID ADDED.

"

ON A REQUEST WHICH HAD BEEN MADE BY STAFF. AND ECHOED BY MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL THAT A PORTION OF THE C GOVERNMENT RESERVES BE SET ASIDE TO ESTABLISH A FUND FOR THE PAYMENT OF PENSIONS. SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS EXAMINING THIS PROPOSAL BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS WAS UNLIKELY TO PROVE A PRACTICABLE PROPOSITION.

"THE SUMS INVOLVED ARE MASSIVE. WE ARE TALKING OF TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WITH OUR EXISTING COMMITMENTS FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. THE POSSIBILITY OF SETTING ASIDE SUCH SUMS FOR A CIVIL SERVICE PENSION FUND IS REMOTE.

AS

OF

"OUR RESERVES MUST BE USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY A WHOLE. BUT THAT SAID WE RECOGNISE THERE ARE WORRIES OVER PENSIONS AND ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS TO PROVIDE A HIGHER DEGREE SECURITY FOR THEM. THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.

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ON THE REFERENCE BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY то THE NEED RESTRICT THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, SIR DAVID SAID THIS WAS NOT JUST A FINANCE BRANCH INITIATIVE. THE ADMINISTRATION AS A WHOLE WAS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE OBJECTIVE OF SEEKING A LEAN. EFFICIENT HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE SERVICE.

AND

WELL

"IF WE ACCEPT THAT CIVIL SERVANTS SHOULD BE REASONABLY PAID, AND LOOKED AFTER, WHICH WE DO. THEY IN TURN MUST ACCEPT THAT THEY MUST WORK HARD TO DELIVER THE GOODS.

MUST IN EVERY

"AT A TIME WHEN OUR MANPOWER AND FINANCES ARE LIMITED WE ENSURE THAT THE SERVICE PRODUCES GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY RESPECT.

"THIS IS WELL UNDERSTOOD BY ALL CONCERNED AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE LIMITED TARGETS FOR GROWTH WHICH WE HAVE ESTABLISHED ARE REALISTIC AND WILL BE ACHIEVED," SIR DAVID SAID.

SIR DAVID PAID SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE CENTRAL POLICY UNIT FOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IT HAD MADE TO THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION MAKING PROCESS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

"SINCE ITS INCEPTION ON APRIL 1. 1989. THE CPU HAS PRODUCED A TOTAL OF 94 PAPERS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE GOVERNOR. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND MYSELF.

/"IT HAS

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