XN000022-1991-11-06 — Page 55

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WEDNESDAY: NOVEMBER 6, 1991

"THE UNIT WILL CONSIST OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES STAFF TOGETHER WITH THE TEAM WORKING ON PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM. WE ALSO INTEND ΤΟ TAKE UP THE OFFER OF HELP BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR BY PUTTING BUSINESS PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE OF MANAGEMENT REFORMS ON TO A NEW STEERING COMMITTEE, TO BE CHAIRED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, WHICH WILL GIVE IMPETUS TO THE WORK OF THE UNIT, HE SAID.

MR WIGGHAM ALSO NOTED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD SPOKEN OF THE NEED TO ESTABLISH A HARMONIOUS AND EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNTERPARTS AT ALL LEVELS IN CHINA; AND THE INTENTION TO ENSURE THAT THIS CLOSER AND MORE PRACTICAL RELATIONSHIP WAS REFLECTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT.

"WE ARE VERY AWARE OF THE NEED FOR CIVIL SERVANTS AT VARIOUS LEVELS TO ACQUIRE GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF CHINA. IN RESPONSE TO THAT NEED WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR CHINA STUDIES PROGRAMME.

"A CHINA STUDIES ELEMENT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN SOME OF OUR ESTABLISHED MANAGEMENT TRAINING ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS THE OXFORD COURSE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS, THE BERKELEY COURSE FOR DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS, AND THE SENIOR COMMAND COURSE FOR THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES.

"IN PARALLEL WE HAVE ORGANISED IN HONG KONG A RANGE OF CHINA SEMINARS CATERING FOR GROUPS OF BRANCH SECRETARIES AND DEPARTMENT HEADS, DIRECTORATE OFFICERS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS.

"IN ADDITION, STARTING THIS YEAR, WE HAVE EMBARKED ON A FAMILIARISATION VISIT PROGRAMME то CHINA DESIGNED TO ENABLE PARTICIPANTS TO ACQUIRE A FIRST-HAND UNDERSTANDING OF VARIOUS ASPECTS OF LIFE AND GOVERNMENT IN CHINA.

"WE ARE ALSO TRAINING CIVIL SERVANTS IN PUTONGHUA, AND THE USE OF WRITTEN CHINESE IN OFFICIAL WRITING. OUR EFFORTS IN ALL THESE AREAS WILL CONTINUE, HE SAID.

MR WIGGHAM SAID THE GOVERNOR ALSO REFERRED TO THE NEED FOR CIVIL SERVANTS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH MEMBERS.

"NOTWITHSTANDING MY EARLIER COMMENTS ON THE EFFECTS OF THE PRESSURES OF CHANGE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE, CIVIL SERVANTS HAVE AGAIN AND AGAIN PROVED THEIR ADAPTABILITY. WE HAVE AS A BUREAUCRACY RESPONDED TO THE CHANGES BROUGHT ABOUT AT ALL LEVELS BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. THAT RESPONSE, THAT

то SERVE IS ADAPTABILITY, THAT WILLINGNESS

EVER MORE CRUCIAL. I BELIEVE THIS AFTERNOON MY OFFICIAL COLLEAGUES HAVE FULLY DEMONSTRATED THAT RESPONSIVENESS.

"I KNOW THAT WE ARE READY, EVEN EAGER ΤΟ PLAY OUR PART IN ESTABLISHING THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL BE CENTRAL TO THE SMOOTH IN THE OPERATION OF THIS COUNCIL IN DELIBERATING AND DECIDING ISSUES INTERESTS OF THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG,' HE ADDED.

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