XN000022-1990-09-06 — Page 2

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1990

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TOO EARLY FOR DETAILS OF EXCO CONTINUITY, SAYS GOVERNOR

IT

WAS

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) STILL TOO EARLY AT THE MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS OF CONTINUITY OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AFTER 1997.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A VISIT TO TAI PO DISTRICT, SIR DAVID SAID: "WHAT WE WANT IS CONTINUITY OF ADMINISTRATION; CONTINUITY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, AND WHEN WE COME NEARER 1997, I THINK WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE QUESTION OF CONTINUITY OF PERSONNEL, BOTH IN SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE POSTS AND POSSIBLY MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AS WELL."

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE ISSUE OF CONTINUITY HAD BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE CHINESE IN GENERAL TERMS, ADDING: "FOR INSTANCE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CONTINUITY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND WE HAVE ARRANGEMENTS NOW IN PLACE WHERE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 1997; THAT IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT."

SIR DAVID SAID THAT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS THE CONTINUITY IN OTHER SECTORS MUST ALSO BE TALKED ABOUT.

ASKED ABOUT MORALE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS WAS SOMETHING WHICH WAS ALWAYS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEFINE.

THE CIVIL

**WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT I THINK THE GOVERNMENT, SERVICE, THE POLICE FORCE, THE OTHER BITS OF THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE ARE WORKING VERY WELL INDEED AT THE MOMENT," HE SAID.

"NOW, THERE ARE ALWAYS WAYS YOU CAN IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND WE OUGHT TO GO ON LOOKING AT THAT, IMPROVING OUR PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.

"BUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ADMINISTRATION I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT THAT. I AM OF COURSE DETERMINED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GO ON BEING AS EFFECTIVE AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST,' HE ADDED,

WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ABOUT PROBLEMS IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. + SIR DAVID SAID: "WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I AM PLEASED TO SEE THESE PROBLEMS COMING OUT INTO THE OPEN IN A WAY WHICH CAN NOW BE DEALT WITH. IF YOU CAN DEAL WITH SOME OF THE PROBLEM AREAS IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT YOU CAN START OFF WITH A CLEAN SLATE.

BE

"WE NOW HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS. HE WILL ABLE TO GET DOWN TO WORK, BUILD HIS OWN TEAM UNDERNEATH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TOO CAN GET ON WITH MAKING IT INTO THE EFFECIENT, EFFECTIVE DEPARTMENT THAT I KNOW HE WANTS TO HAVE," HE SAID.

/COMMENTING ON