XN000022-1994-01-21 — Page 15

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1994

OFFIC

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EXPATRIATE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION URGED TO STAY COOL

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY) URGED THE ASSOCIATION OF EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS (AECS) TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY AND NOT TO RUSH INTO LEGAL ACTION OVER TRANSFERS OF OVERSEAS OFFICERS TO LOCAL

CONDITIONS.

**

"TO DO SO WOULD ONLY RAISE THE TEMPERATURE AND COMPLICATE MATTERS FURTHER, HE SAID. "BUT, IF THEY DO GO AHEAD, WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A DEFENSIBLE POSITION AND WE WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY."

THE SPOKESMAN WAS COMMENTING ON THE ASSOCIATION'S LATEST MOVE IN ITS LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT'S LOCALISATION POLICY.

HE SAID THE AECS APPEARED TO BE DRAWING SOME VERY SWEEPING CONCLUSIONS ON THE BASIS OF A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF CASES WHICH HAD BEEN PROCESSED SO FAR.

"WE DO NOT ACCEPT THAT THE CHANGE OF POLICY INTRODUCED LAST JULY IS A 'SHAM', THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE NEW INTERIM POLICY AND SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT IT IS CORRECT.

"JUDGING BY THE REACTIONS IN OTHER QUARTERS, IT IS SELF-EVIDENT THAT LOCAL STAFF ASSOCIATIONS AND MANY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ALSO DO NOT REGARD IT AS A 'SHAM'.

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THE SPOKESMAN BELIEVED THERE WAS NOTHING REALLY NEW IN AECS'S LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT AND THAT THEY SHOULD WAIT AND SEE HOW NEW POLICY DEVELOPED.

THE

THE

THE GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH ALL ALONG HAS BEEN TO TRY TO BE AND TO ACT ACCORDING TO THE LAW.

FAIR

**WE WILL CONTINUE DOWN THIS TRACK. BUT IF THE AECS HAS PARTICULAR PROBLEMS, WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS WITH THEM IN A REASONABLE WAY.

A SENSITIVE AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND ALL SIDES SHOULD

"THIS IS EXERCISE RESTRAINT.

"A

MORE POSITIVE WAY FORWARD IS FOR ALL PARTIES CONCERNED то SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION FOR BOTH THE SHORT-TERM MEASURE AND ALSO THE LONGER TERM ARRANGEMENTS FOR A COMMON SET OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS STAFF, THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.

APPLICATIONS RECEIVED

AS AT JANUARY 17, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FROM OVERSEAS OFFICERS FOR EMPLOYMENT ON LOCAL CONDITIONS WAS 108.

OF THESE, FOUR HAVE SO FAR BEEN ACCEPTED, OR IN THE PROCESS BEING ACCEPTED; 16 HAVE BEEN REJECTED (INCLUDING THREE ON GROUNDS OF INELIGIBILITY FOR PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS); AND TWO HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN.

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