XN000022-1993-10-06 — Page 40

28

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1993

"THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN UNLESS WE TAKE MORE POSITIVE ACTION. THEREFORE, WE WILL BE MAKING SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THREE OF THE FIVE LAW OFFICER POSTS WILL BE FILLED BY LOCAL PEOPLE BY THE END OF 1995

1.

TO PROVIDE A BETTER FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE, THE DEVELOPMENT POSTS SCHEME SHALL BE ENLARGED AND EXTENDED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL OFFICERS TO BE GROOMED AND TO ACT AT THE PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL RANK.

THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT IS IN A SPECIAL CATEGORY. OVER 90 PER CENT OF ITS CLIENTS ARE CHINESE SPEAKING,

"WE THEREFORE AIM BY 1995 TO ENSURE THAT THE DIRECTOR AND OF THE THREE DEPUTY DIRECTORS IN THE DEPARTMENT ARE PROFICIENT IN LANGUAGE.

TWO

THE

"WE

WILL ALSO WORK TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF OFFICERS THE OTHER DIRECTORATE RANKS OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO ARE ABLE ΤΟ COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR CLIENTS IN CHINESE, HE SAID.

IN

中申

MR PATTEN SAID THE DOMINANCE OF LOCAL PEOPLE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PROGRAMMES AND SERVICES WAS ESSENTIAL.

"NEVERTHELESS, WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT HONG KONG IS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY IN WHICH OVERSEAS OFFICERS CONTINUE TO HAVE AN IMPORTANT PLACE, A FACT RECOGNISED BY THE JOINT DECLARATION BASIC LAW.

"

AND THE

THOSE WHO CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE ACCOMMODATED MUST

BE TREATED

FAIRLY.

"WE SHALL NEED TO WORK WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THESE ISSUES AS 1997 APPROACHES, HE ADDED.

COMMON CONDITIONS OF SERVICE PROPOSED

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES THAT THOSE TAKING UP EMPLOYMENT WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOW DO SO ON COMMON TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.

CONSULTATION WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND STAFF WILL BEGIN

SOON.

ti

"WE WILL ALSO NEED TO DISCUSS OUR PROPOSALS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

/IN HIS

Page 40Page 41