XN000022-1993-08-11 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1993

CSB LOOKS AT DEPARTMENTS IN LOCALISATION MOVE

THE CIVIL

DEPARTMENTS

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SERVICE BRANCH IS LOOKING AT SPECIFIC GOVERNMENT THAT MAY HAVE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS FOLLOWING A RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE TRANSFER OF ELIGIBLE OVERSEAS AGREEMENT OFFICERS TO LOCAL TERMS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING A MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES PANEL OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS CHAN SAID: "WE ARE EXAMINING THESE DEPARTMENTS SEPARATELY IN CONSULTATION WITH POLICY SECRETARIES AND HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS TO SEE HOW BEST TO TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS AND TO QUICKEN THE PACE OF LOCALISATION.

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"IN THE LIGHT OF THIS EXAMINATION, WHICH MAY TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS OR PERHAPS SEVERAL MONTHS, WE WILL THEN HAVE A BETTER IDEA AS TO THE NUMBER OF OVERSEAS AGREEMENT OFFICERS WHO WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN APPLYING FOR TRANSFER TO LOCAL TERMS, " SHE SAID.

"WE WILL BE ABLE TO ASSESS THE IMPACT ON EXISTING LOCAL OFFICERS AND, HAVING DONE THAT ASSESSMENT, WE WILL THEN BE IN A POSITION ΤΟ SEE WHAT IMMEDIATE MEASURES, IF ANY, SHOULD BE TAKEN, MRS CHAN ADDED.

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"THIS WILL ACHIEVE THE GOVERNMENT'S AND PANEL MEMBERS COMMON OBJECTIVE OF FINDING WAYS TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERN WHILE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF QUICKENING THE PACE OF LOCALISATION," SHE NOTED.

REFERRING TO A SUGGESTION BY MEMBERS OF THE PANEL FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SHELVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHANGE, THE SECRETARY SAID: "WE SEE CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES IN SHELVING IMPLEMENTATION BECAUSE IT WOULD CREATE A PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY, WHICH WILL NOT BE GOOD EITHER FOR LOCAL OFFICERS OR FOR THE CONCERNED OVERSEAS AGREEMENT OFFICERS.

"THE CHANGE WE HAVE ANNOUNCED WILL AVOID THIS UNCERTAINTY AND WILL ALLOW US TO DEAL FAIRLY AND FIRMLY WITH APPLICATIONS FOR TRANSFER ON

AN INTERIM BASIS WITHOUT COMMITTING THE FUTURE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT,

SHE SAID.

MRS CHAN REITERATED THAT THE MEASURE THE GOVERNMENT HAD ANNOUNCED WAS OF AN INTERIM, SHORT-TERM NATURE, PENDING CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE, STAFF ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ON THE LONGER-TERM ARRANGEMENTS AFTER 1997.

SHE SAID SHE HAD MET MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS AND THE LOCAL CROWN COUNSEL ASSOCIATION то HEAR THEIR CONCERNS AND TO EXPLAIN WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAD FELT IT NECESSARY ΤΟ INTRODUCE A CHANGE.

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