XN000022-1994-07-11 — Page 2

MONDAY, JULY 11, 1994

CIVIL SERVICE PLANS PROGRAMMES LONG AFTER 1997

MUCH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE'S EFFORT IS FOCUSED ON PROGRAMMES THAT WILL KEEP HONG KONG AS A FLEXIBLE, ADAPTABLE ECONOMY, A GOOD HOME AND AN ENJOYABLE CITY, LONG AFTER 1997, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

"THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING ON THE NEW AIRPORT AND ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT IS HIGHLY VISIBLE, BUT NO LESS IMPORTANT 18 THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION, THE IMPROVEMENT OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY PLANS FOR PENSION, NEW HOUSING, AND, NOT LEAST, THE TRAINING OF NEW GENERATIONS OF PUBLIC SERVANTS, MR PATTEN SAID,

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SPEAKING AT THE 30TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTES OF ADMINITRATION, THE GOVERNOR SAID HONG KONG OFFERED A TREMENDOUS EXAMPLE OF WHAT A PRUDENT, IMAGINATIVE AND DEDICATED ADMINISTRATION COULD ACHIEVE.

HE SAID IN THE PAST 50 YEARS, THE TERRITORY HAD BEEN FACED BY (HALLENGES AND CHANGES FAR MORE FUNDAMENTAL THAN THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE IN 1997.

"THE COMPETENCE AND COMMMITMENT OF 1TS ADMINISTRATION HAD GUIDED IT THROUGH TWO COMPREHENSIVE REALIGNMENTS OF ITS BCONOMIC ACTIVITY - A CHANGE FROM ENTREPOT TO MANUFACTURING CENTRE AFTER

1949, AND FROM SIMPLE NANUFACTUER TO REGIONAL CENTRE FOR FINANCE AND SERVICE SINCE 1978.

"HUGE FLOODS OF REFUGEES THAT DOUBLED AND TRIPLED THE POPULATION IN A FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN WELCOMED INTO THE COMMUNTIY, BEEN HOUSED, HAVE BEEN GIVEN EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN, HALE BEEN GIVEN SECURITY TODAY AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE,' MK PATTEN SAID.

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PATTEN NOTED THAT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS COULD LEARN FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND VICE VERSA.

"I BELIEVE THAT CIVIL SERVANTS CAN TEACH THE PRIVATE SECTOR A GREAT DEAL IN THE OPENNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY WITH WHICH THEY CARRY OUT THEIR ACTIVITIES AND FROM THE FUNDAMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS NOW BEING MADE IN MANY ASPECTS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION."

MR PATTEN CITED HONG KONG AS AN EXAMPLE, SAYING THAT IN THE 18 MONTHS SINCE THE LAUNCH OF A QUALITY SERVICE AND PERFORMING PLEDGE PROGRAMME, SOME 40 DEPARTMENTAL PLEDGES ON QUALITY OF SERVICE HAD BEEN MADE.

HE ADDED THAT 31,000 FRONT LINE STAFF HAD BEEN GIVEN TRAINING IN CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND 64 DEPARTMENTS WERE CARRYING OUT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THEIR SERVICE ENVIRONMENT AND EQUIPMENT.

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"THAT PROGRAMME IS A CLEAR SIGN OF OUR COMMITMENT ΤΟ PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE AND RESPOND BETTER TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAIP.

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