XN000022-1993-10-20 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1993

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CIVIL SERVICE OFFERS A CAREER FOR LIFE

IT

IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN HIGH CALIBRE CANDIDATES TO THE CIVIL SERVICE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES AHEAD, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID.

THEY ARE NEEDED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE TO HELP MODERNISE ITS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, STREAMLINE OPERATIONS, PROMOTE THE USE OF AUTOMATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND PROVIDE TRAINING FOR STAFF, MRS WONG ADDED.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1993 CIVIL SERVICE CAREERS EXHIBITION AT THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) J MRS WONG EXPLAINED WHY ONE SHOULD THINK OF JOINING THE CIVIL SERVICE.

SHE SAID: "POLITICALLY, WE ARE IN A TRANSITION PERIOD TO BECOME A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF CHINA IN 1997 WITH A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WHICH PRESERVES OUR ECONOMIC AND LEGAL SYSTEM AND OUR WAY OF LIFE AFTER 1997.

"ECONOMICALLY, WE ARE FAST BECOMING A SERVICE-ORIENTED AND AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF TRADE AND FINANCE.

ECONOMY

"AND SOCIALLY, THE GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO IMPLEMENT AMBITIOUS PROGRAMMES IN EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND OTHER FIELDS TO MEET THE RISING EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THUS, IT IS

ESSENTIAL TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN HIGH CALIBRE CANDIDATES TO THE CIVIL SERVICE PEOPLE WITH VISION AND COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG, SHE SAID.

MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT A GOOD CIVIL SERVANT MUST HAVE DRIVE AND DETERMINATION, SOUND JUDGEMENT, COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE.

GONE WERE THE DAYS WHEN A CIVIL SERVANT COULD SIT COMFORTABLY IN THE OFFICE/IVORY TOWER AND EXPECT THINGS TO BE DONE SMOOTHLY.

HE MUST BE SENSITIVE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS AND FEELINGS THE MAN-IN-THE-STREET, AND BE INNOVATIVE AND DYNAMIC IN PROBLEM SOLVING.

OF

AS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN HONG KONG, MRS WONG SAID THE CIVIL SERVICE OFFERED ATTRACTIVE SALARY, FRINGE BENEFITS AS WELL AS SECURITY OF TENURE.

THE POSITION OF CIVIL SERVANTS IS ALSO SAFEGUARDED BY THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW UNDER WHICH CIVIL SERVANTS MAY REMAIN IN EMPLOYMENT AND CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE WITH PAY, ALLOWANCES, BENEFITS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE NO LESS FAVOURABLE THAN BEFORE.

HOWEVER, SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE OFFERED NOT

JUST A JOB BUT A CAREER FOR LIFE.

"MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, PERHAPS, IS THAT A CAREER IN THE CIVIL SERVICE IS A VERY POSITIVE WAY OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY AT A VERY CRUCIAL TIME IN HONG KONG," SHE ADDED.

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