XN000022-1993-10-06 — Page 41

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1993

IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR PATTEN SAID THE EXISTENCE OF TWO SETS OF CONDITIONS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS, ONE "LOCAL", THE OTHER "OVERSEAS" HAD HELPED FUEL THE LOCALISATION DEBATE.

"WE HAVE NARROWED THE DIFFERENCES AND INDEED REMOVED THEM ENTIRELY AT THE MOST SENIOR RANKS. WE NEED TO DO MORE.

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HE SAID THE HISTORICAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PRESENT SYSTEM HAD WORN VERY THIN IN THE LAST DECADE OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

TRAINING FOR TRANSITION FULL STEAM AHEAD

THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING FORWARD TO BUILDING UP MORE CONTACTS BETWEEN CHINESE AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THROUGH WORK, VISITS AND TRAINING COURSES, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR PATTEN SAID A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997 INVOLVED A MAJOR EFFORT TO PREPARE THE CIVIL SERVICE FOR TRANSITION.

THIS REQUIRES DEVELOPMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND THE SKILLS REQUIRED TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH CHINA, HE ADDED.

"THE DEMAND FOR A MUCH DEEPER KNOWLEDGE OF CHINA AND ITS SYSTEMS EXISTS AT ALL LEVELS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE."

TO FILL. THIS NEED, THE CIVIL SERVICE TRAINING CENTRE WILL CONTINUE ΤΟ DEVELOP TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR ALL CIVIL SERVANT'S COVERING DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF CHINA'S POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE.

"LET ME EMPHASISE THE PRIORITY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES TO PREPARING THE CIVIL SERVICE FOR THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY.

WOMEN TO

"WE MUST DO EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO SEE THAT THE MEN AND IN OUR CIVIL SERVICE HAVE THE BACKGROUND AND EXPERTISE TO CONTINUE PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION FOR THIS TERRITORY AFTER 1997, AS LAID DOWN IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW."

HE SAID

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GOVERNMENT WOULD PROVIDE EVERY SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE TO DO SO.

"WE LOOK FORWARD TO CO-OPERATING WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN THIS PROCESS," HE SAID.

SPECIALISRD SHORT COURSES TO FAMILIARISE CIVIL SERVANTS WITH CHINA'S SYSTEMS AND CURRENT ISSUES ARE A STANDARD FRATURE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S TRAINING ACTIVITIES.

THE GOVERNMENT STARTED A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SPONSORED VISIT PROGRAMME IN 1987, INVOLVING EXCHANGE VISITS BETWEEN SENIOR CHINESE AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

/IN JULY