XN000022-1994-05-10 — Page 4

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CIVIL SERVICE NEEDS STABILITY

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1994

IT IS IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CONCERNED THAT THERE SHOULD BE MAXIMUM CONTINUITY IN THE PRINCIPAL OFFICIAL LEVEL OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

THIS IS SO IN PARTICULAR TO HONG KONG PEOPLE, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE FUTURE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT, SHE SAID.

"THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REMAINS READY TO DISCUSS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON HOW THIS MIGHT BE ACHIEVED.

"WE BELIEVE THIS

DIALOGUE

SHOULD TAKE PLACE AS SOON AS

POSSIBLE. SHE SAID.

IN A SPEECH TO THE LUNCHEON OF ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG, MRS CHAN ADDED THAT IN THE MEANTIME THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE WITH ITS PLANS TO FILL THE MOST SENIOR GOVERNMENT POSTS WITH LOCAL OFFICERS IN GOOD TIME BEFORE 1997.

"A SMOOTH TRANSITION IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL CONTRIBUTE IN NO SMALL MEASURE TO SMOOTH TRANSITION IN THE TERRITORY AS A WHOLE IN 1997, SHE SAID.

SHE WAS CONFIDENT THAT HONG KONG COULD ENJOY THE SAME PROFESSIONAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE FROM A STABLE CIVIL SERVICE UP TO AND BEYOND 1997 GIVEN THE GOVERNMENT'S PERSEVERANCE IN ITS WORK GOODWILL FROM THE CHINESE SIDE.

AND

NON- 1997

THE JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDES THAT OFFICERS WHO ARE CHINESE NATIONALS MAY CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE GOVERNMENT AFTER IN ALL POSTS EXCEPT A HANDFUL OF TOP POSITIONS. THE BASIC LAW ELABORATES ON THIS.

IF THIS RESTRICTION WERE APPLIED TO THE POSTS WHICH CURRENTLY EXIST WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE, ONLY SOME 22 POSITIONS WOULD BE AFFECTED.

STRESSING THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE NEEDED STABILITY IN THE RUN-UP TO 1997, SHE SAID THERE WAS NO NEED FOR THEM TO INDICATE WHETHER OR NOT THEY INTENDED TO REMAIN IN SERVICE AFTER 1997.

THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTINUITY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IN THE TRANSITION TO THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT ARE SET OUT IN DETAIL IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW.

HONG

"INDRED SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE DIRECTOR OF THE KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE, HAVE REPEATEDLY REASSURED HONG KONG CIVIL SERVANTS ON THIS POINT, SHE SAID.

THE

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ΤΟ

CHIEF SECRETARY SPELT OUT A NUMBER OF MEASURES REINFORCE CIVIL SERVANTS' CONFIDENCE AND TO ENHANCE THEIR QUALITY.

/THEY INCLUDED