XN000022-1990-11-13 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1990

"WE ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING A PERIOD OF

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UNPRECEDENTED POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES. THESE CHANGES HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED SUCH A WAY THAT THEY WILL NOT ENDANGER OUR STABILITY.

"WE AIM TO DEVELOP A NEW POLITICAL SYSTEM THAT WILL WORK BEST FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE, BUT THIS HAS TO BE BUILT UPON INSTITUTIONS AND TRADITIONS WHICH HAVE SERVED US WELL, AND IN WHICH OUR COMMUNITY HAS CONFIDENCE.

"THIS IS A TALL ORDER TO FULFIL AND THE CIVIL SERVANTS IN HONG KONG HAVE A KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN THE PROCESS, " MR LAN SAID.

"THEY ALSO HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING AND ADAPTING TO THE CHANGES THAT THEY THEMSELVES HAVE EFFECTED, AND TO RESOLVE THE COMPETING CLAIMS AND DEMANDS MADE UPON THE GOVERNMENT BY DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, HE ADDED.

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HE ADMITTED THAT THE WORK INVOLVED WOULD BE DEMANDING AND TAXING AND AT TIMES STRESSFUL BUT IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING AND REWARDING.

"IT IS MEANINGFUL AND SATISFYING WORK AS WELL BECAUSE ONE WOULD BE POSITIVELY PARTICIPATING IN MAPPING OUT THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, AND PERSONALLY WITNESSING HISTORICAL CHANGES TAKING PLACE, HE ADDED.

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HE FURTHER NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT, AS A GOOD EMPLOYER, PROVIDED FAIR AND STEADY PROMOTION PROSPECTS.

CITING THE EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE GRADES AS EXAMPLES, НЕ SAID THAT IN RECENT YEARS THE PROMOTION PROSPECTS HAD BEEN EVEN BETTER, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S LOCALISATION POLICY AND EXPANSION, AND PARTLY BECAUSE THE CIVIL SERVICE, LIKE OTHER SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, WAS SUFFERING FROM BRAIN DRAIN.

"HOWEVER, THE GREATER REWARD IN A CIVIL SERVICE CAREER DOES NOT LIE IN SALARY INCREASE AND MATERIALISTIC GAINS. THOSE WHO LOOK FOR WEALTH SHOULD JOIN THE PRIVATE RATHER THAN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

"A CIVIL SERVICE JOB OFFERS JOB SATISFACTION, SECURITY, A REASONABLY GOOD STANDARD OF LIVING, AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, THE OPPORTUNITY OF SERVING ONE'S COMMUNITY AND CONTRIBUTING TO ITS STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, HE CONCLUDED.

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