XN000022-1993-05-26 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1993

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FEW GOVT OFFICES WERE LEFT VACANT

ONLY 0.03 PER CENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S GENERAL OFFICE ACCOMMODATION HAD BEEN LEFT VACANT FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR DONALD TSANG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HENRY TANG YING- YEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR TSANG SAID THE ACCOMMODATION HAD NOT BEEN ALLOCATED BECAUSE IT WAS SURPLUS TO IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS.

"THE 240 SQUARE METRES OF GENERAL OFFICE ACCOMMODATION CURRENTLY VACANT WILL BE ALLOCATED FOR DEPARTMENTAL USE AS AND WHEN SUITABLE USERS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, AND SUBJECT TO THE VETTING OF REQUIREMENTS BY THE GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AGENCY, HE SAID.

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OF THE VACANT PREMISES, 160 SQUARE METRES ARE LOCATED AT THE RECENTLY COMPLETED NORTH DISTRICT GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN FANLING AND 80 SQUARE METRES ARE LOCATED AT THE MUI WO GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

THE GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY HOLDING A TOTAL OF 785,676 SQUARE METRES OF GENERAL OFFICE ACCOMMODATION.

NO PLAN TO DISBAND HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT

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HOSPITAL SERVICES

THERE IS AT PRESENT NO PLAN TO DISBAND THE DEPARTMENT (HSD), THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MRS ANSON CHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MICHAEL HO MUN-KA, MRS CHAN SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK AFTER THE INTERESTS OF

THOSE CIVIL SERVANTS WHO CHOSE NOT TO TRANSFER TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY (HA) AFTER NOVEMBER 1994.

"THESE OFFICERS WILL REMAIN WORKING IN THE HA ON CIVIL SERVICE TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT UNTIL THEY LEAVE THE SERVICE THROUGH NATURAL WASTAGE, SHE SAID.

"

WHEN THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TOOK OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN 1991, THE 21,793 DEPARTMENTAL GRADE STAFF WORKING IN THE HSD WERE GIVEN UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER 1994 TO DECIDE TO TRANSFER TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE HA OR REMAIN AS CIVIL SERVANTS.

AS AT APRIL 1 THIS YEAR, THERE WERE STILL 12,260 CIVIL SERVANTS WORKING IN THE HA.

MRS CHAN SAID THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HSD WOULD BE REGULARLY HAVING REGARD TO THE DECLINING NUMBER OF REMAINING WITH THE HA.

REVIEWED

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SERVANTS

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