XN000022-1993-11-24 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1993

I SHALL NOT PRETEND THAT CIVIL SERVANTS DO NOT HAVE WORRIES AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE: WE ALL DO. INDEED THE CIVIL SERVICE IS UNDERGOING A PERIOD OF UNPRECEDENTED CHANGE:

FIRST, WE HAVE TO ADJUST TO FAR HIGHER EXPECTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. QUITE RIGHTLY THE PUBLIC EXPECTS QUICK, EFFICIENT AND COURTEOUS SERVICE. AND НЕ HAVE RESPONDED VERY WELL TO THIS. WE HAVE FOR EXAMPLE INTRODUCED PERFORMANCE PLEDGES IN ALL DEPARTMENTS, AS MR BARROW SAID, MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD IN THAT DIRECTION.

SECONDLY, MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL ARE ALSO ADDING ΤΟ THE PRESSURES ON THE SERVICE. OUR POLITICAL SCENE IN HONG KONG IS UNRECOGNISABLE FROM A FEW YEARS AGO. AGAIN, CIVIL SERVANTS HAVE RISEN EXTREMELY WELL AND COMPETENTLY THE CHALLENGE.

ΤΟ

THIRDLY, IS THE TRANSITION TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY. HAVE DEALT WITH MANY ASPECTS OF THIS. YES, THERE ARE STILL MANY IMPONDERABLES. BUT LET US EXAMINE WHAT WE HAVE IN FACT DONE.

MEMBERS

PENSIONS AND PENSION SAFEGUARDS

FOR A START, OVER THE LAST DECADE WE HAVE DONE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT TO PROVIDE PENSION SECURITY. HOW ANYONE CAN ARGUE THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH TO MEET LEGITIMATE CONCERNS IN THIS AREA BAFFLES ME-

AT THE ADMINISTRATION'S INITIATIVE, PENSIONS ARE NOW A STATUTORY RIGHT AND A STATUTORY CHARGE ON THE GENERAL REVENUE.

SIMILARLY, PENSION INCREASES IN LINE WITH INFLATION ARE NOW A STATUTORY RIGHT.

BOTH THE BASIC LAW AND THE JOINT DECLARATION GUARANTEE UNAMBIGUOUSLY THAT PENSIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE PAID ON TERMS NO LESS FAVOURABLE THAN BEFORE, IRRESPECTIVE OF NATIONALITY OR PLACE OF RESIDENCE.

AND, IN HIS ADDRESS TO THIS COUNCIL LAST MONTH THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED WE WOULD BE ESTABLISHING A $7 BILLION PENSION RESERVE FUND. THIS IS A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY BY ANYONE'S STANDARDS. WE SHALL SOON START DISCUSSION WITH STAFF ON THE DETAILS AND I WILL MAKE THE POINT THAT PENSIONS. ARE PROJECTED TO REMAIN AT ONLY FOUR TO FIVE PER CENT OF GOVERNMENT OPERATING EXPENDITURE WELL INTO THE FUTURE. VERY MANAGEABLE LEVEL.

A

LOCALISATION

HON

I

AM SUBJECT

MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT LOCALISATION RECENTLY AND SEVERAL MEMBERS HAVE AGAIN MADE IT A CENTRAL THEME TO THEIR SPEECHES. FRANKLY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE SEEM UNABLE TO LOOK AT OBJECTIVELY.

THIS

/THE HONG