XN000022-1993-10-20 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1993

LOCALISATION POLICY BROADLY SUCCESSFUL: CS

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL, WITHIN A WEEK PUBLISH A CONSULTATION DOCUMENT ON HOW TO END THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN "LOCAL" AND OVERSEAS OFFICERS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, STR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE DOCUMENT WILL ALSO PROPOSES A COMMON SET OF TERMS FOR ALL CIVIL SERVANTS.

SIR DAVID WAS SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON HELD BY THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THE LOCALISATION POLICY, ACCORDING TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY, LONG STANDING AND HAS BEEN BROADLY SUCCESSFUL.

IS

SIR DAVID BELIEVES THAT THE PROFESSIONALISM, SKILL AND ADAPTABILITY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IS ONE OF THE VITAL ELEMENTS OF THE CONTINUITY THROUGH 1997 AND BEYOND.

HE

SAID CONTINUITY OF THE HONG KONG SYSTEM WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE TERRITORY, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

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"HONG KONG'S FUTURE MUST BE BASED ON ITS PAST IF IT IS TO SURVIVE, PROSPER AND CONTRIBUTE MIGHTILY TO CHINA'S OWN DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID.

AS

HE STRESSED THAT THE RULE OF LAW, AN OPEN, FAIR AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT WERE JUST AS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUING BUSINESS SUCCESS THEY WERE TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

IN

"AND I MUST SAY I SOMETIMES FEEL VERY SAD THAT SOME PEOPLE THE COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO PLAY DOWN THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE PRINCIPLES ON WHICH THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR SUCCESS HAS BEEN BUILT.

P

"THEY ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR NOW. THEY WILL BE WORTH FIGHTING FOR IN THE FUTURE,' HE SAID.

AFTER

ASKED BY REPORTERS TO FURTHER ELABORATE ON "CONTINUITY" THE LUNCHEON, SIR DAVID SAID THE BRITISH TEAM WAS TRYING TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THAT CONTINUITY.

"WE ARE TRYING TO SEEK AGREEMENT TO ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 1997. BUT OF COURSE IT CAN'T BE CONTINUITY AT ANY PRICE, HE SAID.

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"WE

DO HAVE OUR PRINCIPLES AND THOSE PRINCIPLES ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AS WELL.

HE

SO IT'S GOT TO BE THAT BALANCE IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THAT DIFFICULT JUDGEMENT, TO BE MADE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS, SAID.

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