XN000022-1992-05-20 — Page 39

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1992

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LEGAL DEPARTMENT REVIEWING AGREEMENTS OF OVERSEAS OFFICERS

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THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS AT PRESENT CARRYING OUT ITS ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE AGREEMENTS OF OVERSEAS OFFICERS WHOSE AGREEMENTS HAVE AT LEAST ONE YEAR TO RUN BEFORE EXPIRY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IT WAS THE INTENTION OF THE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT IF IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE AGREEMENT OF AN OFFICER WAS NOT TO BE RENEWED, THAT OFFICER WOULD BE GIVEN AMPLE NOTIFICATION TO PLAN HIS OR HER CAREER.

THE CURRENT REVIEW IS STILL IN PROGRESS AND THE DEPARTMENT IS EXPECTED ΤΟ FORWARD ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE AGREEMENTS OF ABOUT 20 OFFICERS AT VARIOUS RANKS WILL EITHER NOT BE RENEWED ON EXPIRY BETWEEN OCTOBER 1993 AND SEPTEMBER 1994, OR IN CERTAIN CASES BE EXTENDED FOR ONE YEAR.

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"THIS WILL GIVE THE OFFICERS AT LEAST MORE THAN A YEAR OR IN SOME CASES MORE THAN TWO YEARS TO PLAN THEIR CAREER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID,

UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S LOCALISATION POLICY, PREFERENCE IS GIVEN то LOCAL CANDIDATES AT THE RECRUITMENT LEVEL, AND IN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO RENEW THE CONTRACT OF AN OVERSEAS OFFICER.

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MORE LOCAL OFFICERS IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ARE EXPECTED BECOME SUITABLE TO FILL POSTS AT SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL AND DIRECTORATE LEVELS AS A RESULT OF TWO SCHEMES INTRODUCED BY THE DEPARTMENT ΤΟ SPEED UP THE PACE OF LOCALISATION.

THE DOUBLE LADDER SCHEME, AIMED AT PROMOTING LOCAL CROWN COUNSEL WITH POTENTIAL TO SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL, WAS IMPLEMENTED AT THE END OF 1988.

AS A RESULT, THE NUMBER OF LOCAL SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL HAS GONE UP TO THE PRESENT 65 (46.8%) OUT OF A TOTAL OF 139, COMPARED WITH THE FIGURE OF 23 (23%) OUT OF A TOTAL OF 99 AS AT THE END OF 1988.

THE MIDDLE OF POTENTIAL OF LOCAL

THE DEVELOPMENT POSTS SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN 1991, WITH THE AIM OF ENHANCING THE PROMOTION OFFICERS TO FILL DIRECTORATE POSTS.

THE GROOMING PERIOD IS FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS CONSISTING OF TWO ELEMENTS, ABOUT SIX MONTHS TRAINING OR ATTACHMENT то A GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT BRANCH, FOLLOWED BY ABOUT 12 MONTHS ACTING APPOINTMENT IN A DIRECTORATE POST.

UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT POSTS SCHEME, SEVEN LOCAL SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL ARE ACTING IN DIRECTORATE POSTS WHILE FOUR OTHERS HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.

ANOTHER LOCAL SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL IS ATTACHED то THE HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA.

/AT PRESENT