XN000022-1994-03-30 — Page 46

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1994

SHE SAID: "THIS IS INEVITABLY A GRADUAL PROCESS, BUT ALREADY BEEN FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE

THE PERCENTAGE OF OVERSEAS OFFICERS I IN THE CIVIL SERVICE HAS SHRUNK FROM ABOUT 4.4 PER CENT IN 1952 TO 1.1 PER CENT IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.

LOCAL OFFICERS NOW FORM 67.4 PER CENT OF THE DIRECTORATE AND OCCUPY HALF OF THE POSTS AT THE LEVEL OF HEAD OF DEPARTMENT AND POLICY SECRETARY.

MRS CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD INTRODUCED SPECIAL MEASURES FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS WHERE PROGRESS HAD NOT BEEN SO EASY TO MAKE.

ON THE PROPOSAL INTRODUCED LAST YEAR FOR COMMON TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR ALL FUTURE STAFF, SHE SAID DURING THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE, THE COMMENTS RECEIVED WERE OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF THE PRINCIPLE OF COMMON CONDITIONS OF

SERVICE.

"PREDICTABLY, MORE DIVERSE VIEWS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED ON THE SPECIFIC TERMS PROPOSED.

"WE ARE NOW STUDYING THE VIEWS RECEIVED TO SEE WHETHER ANY PART OF OUR PROPOSAL SHOULD BE CHANGED.

Fr

"WHEN WE HAVE REACHED A CONCLUSION, WE WILL HOLD FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF AND SEEK FURTHER ADVICE FROM ADVISORY BODIES, SHE SAID.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID DIALOGUE WOULD BE MAINTAINED WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS' VIEWS WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT,

**WE WILL THEN CONSULT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND DISCUSS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. SHE ADDED.

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GOVT WILL HELF JUDICIARY GO MODERNISATION

THE

ADMINISTRATION WILL, DO EVERYTHING IT CAN JUDICIARY CREATE A MORE OPEN AND USER-FRIENDLY CULTURE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, ANSON CHAN, SAID.

WHILE DOING THIS. IT WILL FULLY RESPECT THE JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE.

TO HELP THE AND A MORE THE HON MRS

PRINCIPLE OF

RESPONDING TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS" CONCERN OVER THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE JUDICIARY IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BUDGET, MRS CHAN SAID MUCH HAD BEEN DONE IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS.

MRS CHAN SAID THE HIGH-LEVEL WORKING PARTY ON JUDICIARY ADMINISTRATION WAS MAPPING OUT A BROAD STRATEGY FOR THE JUDICIARY FOLLOW UP.

ΤΟ

/TT HAS