XN000022-1992-04-29 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1992

LONG SERVICE CERTIFICATES TO 208 WELFARE STAFF

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A TOTAL OF 208 STAFF MEMBERS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON GATHERED AT THE DEPARTMENT'$ LADY TRENCH TRAINING CENTRE TO RECEIVE FROM THEIR DIRECTOR, MR M.D. CARTLAND, LONG AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE CERTIFICATES.

THE RECIPIENTS, INCLUDING 71 SOCIAL WORKERS, WHO HAVE CHALKED UP MORE THAN 4,340 YEARS OF SERVICE, HAVE BEEN IN CIVIL SERVICE FOR MORE THAN 20 OR 30 YEARS.

SPEAKING AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE CERTIFICATES, MR CARTLAND SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD ORGANISED SUCH PRESENTATION SINCE 1989 IN APPRECIATION OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION AND EFFORTS.

"IT IS VALUABLE TO WORK IN A DEPARTMENT OF THIS SIZE, WITH THE DEDICATED STAFF, ESPECIALLY THE PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS AND OFFICERS FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD, DOING THEIR JOBS SO EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY," MR CARTLAND SAID.

IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE TO THE CLIENTS AFTER PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1990S AND BEYOND WERE IMPLEMENTED, HE ADDED.

LOCAL DIRECTOR OF AUDIT WILL BE APPOINTED BEFORE 1997

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THE APPOINTMENT NOW OF AN EXPATRIATE AS THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT WILL NOT PREVENT THE APPOINTMENT OF A LOCAL DIRECTOR BEFORE 1997 SO AS TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT IN THE BASIC LAW.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE BASIC LAW STIPULATES THAT A FOREIGN NATIONAL MAY NOT FILL THE POST OF DIRECTOR OF AUDIT.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION

BY THE HON MR WONG HONG-YUEN, THE SECRETARY SAID THE NEW DIRECTOR WAS A CONTRACT OFFICER AND WOULD BE 57 THIS YEAR.

"THERE WILL BE AMPLE TIME FOR A LOCAL OFFICER ΤΟ SUCCEED HIM WHEN HE RETIRES IN THE NORMAL COURSE IN 1995," HE SAID.

HE SAID THE POST OF DIRECTOR OF AUDIT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT.

"THE APPOINTMENT IS

MADE BY THE GOVERNOR, AS REQUIRED SECTION 3 OF THE AUDIT ORDINANCE, AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

BY

OF

/"THESE PROCEDURES