XN000022-1993-10-25 — Page 2

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1993

NEW TERMS OF APPOINTMENT AND

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE PUBLISHED FOR CONSULTATION

A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS SERVICE TERMS OF APPOINTMENT AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WAS TODAY (MONDAY).

FOR CIVIL PUBLISHED

DIFFERENCES

THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS ARE AIMED AT REMOVING IN LOCAL AND OVERSEAS CONDITIONS OF SERVICE SO THAT ALL FUTURE APPOINTEES TO THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL BE SUBJECT TO A COMMON SET OF TERMS.

THE PROPOSALS PROVIDE A BASIS FOR DISCUSSING THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION WHICH THE GOVERNMENT UNDERTOOK TO PURSUE WHEN IT INTRODUCED THE INTERIM MEASURE OF ALLOWING QUALIFIED OVERSEAS CONTRACT OFFICERS TO TRANSFER TO LOCAL TERMS LAST JULY.

EXPLAINING THE NEED FOR CHANGE, ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR STUART HARBINSON, SAID OVERSEAS TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO ATTRACT OFFICERS FROM ABROAD WHO POSSESSED THE SPECIFIC SKILLS AND EXPERTISE NOT AVAILABLE LOCALLY, AND TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF INCONVENIENCE SUFFERED BY THOSE OFFICERS IN BEING DISLOCATED FROM THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT.

"HOWEVER, WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME, OVERSEAS CONDITIONS OF SERVICE HAVE BECOME LESS NECESSARY FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECRUITING AND RETAINING STAFF OF A SUITABLE CALIBRE, HE SAID.

"IT IS

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THEREFORE PROPOSED THAT ONE SET OF NEW TERMS AND CONDITIONS BE INTRODUCED FOR GENERAL APPLICATION.

UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, FUTURE RECRUITS WILL NORMALLY BE APPOINTED ON NEW PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE (P & P) TERMS.

NEW AGREEMENT TERMS WILL BE OFFERED ONLY IF THERE IS A SERVICE NEED TO ACQUIRE SPECIAL EXPERTISE FOR A FIXED DURATION OR WHERE THE NEW P & P TERMS FAIL TO ATTRACT SUITABLE CANDIDATES. SUCH TERMS WILL BE OFFERED ONLY FOR A SPECIFIC PERIOD.

MR HARBINSON SAID:

"THE NEW TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WILL ONLY BE APPLIED TO OFFICERS RECRUITED AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE, WHICH IS NOT YET FIXED.

"SERVING P &P OFFICERS WILL RETAIN THEIR ENTITLEMENT то EXISTING BENEFITS UNLESS THEY CHOOSE TO TRANSFER TO THE NEW TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

THE

"SERVING OFFICERS ON AGREEMENT TERMS MAY BE OFFERED FURTHER EMPLOYMENT ON NEW P & P TERMS OR NEW AGREEMENT TERMS IF THEY MEET SPECIFIED CRITERIA,' HE ADDED.

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HE POINTED OUT THAT PROFICIENCY IN THE CHINESE LANGUAGE HAD BEEN PROPOSED AS A CONDITION FOR ALL FUTURE APPOINTMENTS TO P & P TERMS, BUT FOR APPOINTMENTS ON AGREEMENT TERMS, THIS WOULD BE REQUIREMENT ONLY IF SUCH SKILL WAS NECESSARY FOR THE JOB.

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/MR HARBINSON