XN000022-1992-10-14 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1992

"IF THE PLANNED PERMANENT USES ARE NOT LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME AND IF THERE ARE SUITABLE REPLACEMENT SITES, THE TOWN PLAN IS REVIEWED TO SEE WHETHER IT IS DESIRABLE FOR AND THE LAND CONCERNED ΤΟ BE REZONED FOR MORE URGENT USES WHICH CAN BE DEVELOPED EARLIER," MR LEUNG SAID.

HE FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT TEMPORARY USES OF LAND INCLUDED TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS, PUBLIC CAR PARKS, OPEN STORAGE AREAS, PLANT NURSERIES, WORKS AREA, AND SO ON.

LOCAL OFFICERS GIVEN NECESSARY EXPOSURE AND EXPERIENCE

THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PLANNING FOR MANY YEARS NOW TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL OFFICERS HAVE THE NECESSARY EXPOSURE AND EXPERIENCE TO TAKE OVER SENIOR POSTS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

REPLYING ΤΟ A QUESTION FROM THE HON FUNG KIN-KEE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR STUART HARBINSON, SAID THE RESULTS HAD ON THE WHOLE BEEN ENCOURAGING.

CITING EXAMPLES, HE SAID THE PERCENTAGE OF LOCAL DIRECTORATE OFFICERS HAD GROWN FROM 35 PER CENT IN 1982 TO 65 PER CENT IN 1992, AND THAT OF LOCAL POLICY SECRETARIES HAD INCREASED FROM 23 PER CENT TO 53 PER CENT DURING THE SAME PERIOD.

**IN PART THIS REFLECTS THE INCREMENTAL RESULTS OF OUR LONG STANDING LOCALISATION POLICY," SAID MR HARBINSON.

"BUT WE HAVE NOT HESITATED TO TAKE ADDITIONAL

MEASURES WHERE

NECESSARY.

THAT

"ONE EXAMPLE IS THE INTRODUCTION IN 1986 OF THE GUIDELINE OVERSEAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS SHOULD USUALLY RETIRE THREE YEARS EARLY, AT THE AGE OF 57."

FOR POSTS IDENTIFIED IN THE BASIC LAW TO BE FILLED ONLY BY CHINESE CITIZENS, MR HARBINSON SAID THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO BE FILLED PROGRESSIVELY BY TALENTED LOCAL OFFICERS.

HE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BASIC LAW BOTH IN FULL AND IN GOOD TIME TO ALLOW THOSE SELECTED TO ACQUIRE SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE BEFORE 1997,

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