XN000022-1990-10-17 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1990

NEW MEASURES TO STREAMLINE CNTA OPERATIONS

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A NUMBER OF MEASURES WILL BE INTRODUCED FROM THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR TO REDUCE SPENDING AND TO STEAMLINE THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA).

"THESE MEASURES HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP AFTER A CAREFUL STUDY ON HOW TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF EXISTING RESOURCES," A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN MANPOWER AND EXPENSES AS

"THE AIM IS TO ACHIEVE SAVINGS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S AUSTERITY PROGRAMME WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING STANDARDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

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'GREAT CARE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT ANY ADVERSE EFFECT ON SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC IS KEPT TO THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM, HE ADDED.

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VACANT POSTS WILL BE DELETED TOGETHER WITH OTHER STAFFING CUTS.

THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE (PES) CENTRES WILL BE REDUCED FROM 69 TO 20 BUT THEY WILL HAVE A MUCH STRONGER BACKUP AND SUPPORT THROUGH EXPANSION OF THE PES UNIT IN CNTA HEADQUARTERS, INCLUDING A CENTRALISED TELEPHONE HOTLINE ENQUIRY SYSTEM AND A COMPUTERISED DATA BANK.

AS PART OF THE REORGANISATION OF THE PES, CNTA WILL FROM APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR ADMINISTER ONLY THOSE STATUTORY DECLARATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THE PERSONAL USE OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS BEEN ASKED TO RE-EXAMINE THE NECESSITY FOR STATUTORY DECLARATIONS.

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WHERE THESE ARE STILL REQUIRED, THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED WILL PROVIDE THE STATUTORY DECLARATION SERVICE INSTEAD OF CNTA.

HOWEVER, CNTA WILL CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER A LIMITED STATUTORY DECLARATION SERVICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

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"CNTA IS JOINTLY WORKING OUT THE DETAILS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED AND A FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT AND NOTICE WILL BE ISSUED EARLY 1991," HE ADDED.

ANOTHER MEASURE INVOLVES THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR BOOKING COMMUNITY CENTRES AND HALLS UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF CNTA.

BOOKING IN FUTURE WILL BE THROUGH THE DISTRICT OFFICE WHICH WILL ENABLE THE STAFF NOW STATIONED IN THE CENTRES TO BE RELEASED FOR REDEPLOYMENT.

HOWEVER, THE APPLICATION PROCEDURES WILL BE KEPT SIMPLE AND THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY EFFECT ON THE ACTIVITIES IN THESE PREMISES.

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