XN000022-1994-10-26 — Page 52

SZE'S

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994

SCS IN LEGCO DEBATE

FOLLOWING IS THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE MR MICHAEL REPLY DURING THE LEGCO DEBATE ON MOTION OF THANKS TODAY

(WEDNESDAY):

MR PRESIDENT,

MANY MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN ELOQUENTLY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AS AN EFFICIENT AND STABLE INSTITUTION, PARTICULARLY AT THIS TIME IN HONG KONG'S DEVELOPMENT. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THESE REMARKS, AND MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL, DRAW

ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THEM.

MR CHEUNG MAN-KWONG REMARKED ON THE DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE. MR MARTIN BARROW PRAISED ITS DEDICATION. MR MARVIN CHEUNG CAUTIONED MEMBERS NOT ΤΟ GO "OVERBOARD" IN QUESTIONING CIVIL SERVANTS APPEARING BEFORE THEM AND RIGHTLY REMINDED US THAT THE COMMUNITY EXPECTS US TO WORK TOGETHER. AND I AM SPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO MR JIMMY MCGREGOR FOR ARTICULATING SO COGENTLY PROBLEMS FACED BY SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH LEGISLATURE. HE HAS REFLECTED THE SITUATION WELL AND I PARTICULARLY WISH TO ENDORSE HIS POSITION THAT WE ARE MEMBERS' COLLEAGUES AND NOT THEIR ADVERSARIES.

THE

THE

THE CIVIL SERVICE IS INDEED A STRONG AND IMPORTANT INSTITUTION. MR ERIC LI REFERRED TO IT AS HONG KONG'S MOST VALUABLE ASSET AND MR MARTIN BARROW CALLED IT THE ENVY OF MANY. IT HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY WELL THROUGH THE YEARS OF RAPID SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE. NO LARGE INSTITUTION IS WITHOUT ITS FAULTS AND INEFFICIENCIES. BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING CONSTANTLY, UPGRADING OUR SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WHILE CONTAINING COSTS. INDIVIDUAL CIVIL SERVANTS ARE PRONE TO THE UNCERTAINTIES WHICH AFFECT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, BUT THE RECORD SHOWS THAT WE HAVE NOT LET THIS AFFECT OUR PERFORMANCE. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE MOMENTUM OF RAISING OUR STANDARDS OF SERVICE, AND ARE MEETING THE COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATIONS.

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CRITICISMS

IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WE KNOW THAT DESPITE SOMETIMES, DARE I SAY UNDESERVED, AS RECOGNISED BY MR MARVIN CHEUNG AND MR JIMMY MCGREGOR

IN THERE IS, NEVERTHELESS, A BROAD CONSENSUS THE COMMUNITY, AS REFLECTED IN MANY MEMBERS' SPEECHES, THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE IS DOING A GOOD JOB AND DESERVES SUPPORT. WE TREASURE THAT SUPPORT.

WE ALSO TREASURE THAT CONSENSUS AND ARE NATURALLY CONCERNED WHEN CIVIL SERVICE ISSUES BECOME POLITICISED, A CONCERN ECHOED BY MR RONALD ARCULLI. I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE MEMBERS

THAT, DESPITE THE PROBLEMS FACING THE CIVIL SERVICE, AND THOSE OF US WHO MANAGE IT, WE ARE DETERMINED TO ENSURE THAT IT WILL NOT BE POLITICISED. POLITICS SHOULD NOT AND WILL NOT HAVE A ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE - APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS FOR EXAMPLE AND INDEED IN THE WAY WE IMPLEMENT THE DECISIONS OF THIS COUNCIL.

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THE CIVIL SERVICE FACES MANY DIFFICULT TASKS IN THE YEARS AHEAD. WE MUST FACE THEM SQUARELY. AND I CAN ASSURE MEMBERS WE HAVE THE DETERMINATION TO DO SO. BUT WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF THIS COUNCIL, AND OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WE NOW ENJOY. IT WILL BE OF ENORMOUS HELP AND ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE TIMES AHEAD AS WE FACE THESE CHALLENGES. SAY CHALLENGES AS THESE DIFFICULTIES OFTEN PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES.

I

/GIVEN THE