XN000022-1994-11-09 — Page 33

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1994

13

EARLY RETIREMENT OF SENIOR OFFICERS

FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG MAN-KWONG AND A REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR MICHAEL SZE, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

QUESTION: REGARDING THE PUBLIC STATEMENT MADE BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE THAT SOME DEPARTMENTS ARE FACING AN EXODUS OF STAFF AT THE MIDDLE AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT LEVELS RESULTING IN THE SO-CALLED "SUCCESSION GAP", WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL:

(A)

(B)

(C)

WHICH ARE THE DEPARTMENTS REFERRED TO BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE:

OF THE NUMBER OF LOCAL AND EXPATRIATE STAFF MIDDLE AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT LEVELS IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE AGED OVER 50 HAVE APPLIED FOR RETIREMENT UNDER THE OLD SCHEME SINCE 1 APRIL 1994; AND

AT THE VARIOUS AND WHO PENSION

IN REGARD TO THE DEPARTMENTS IN WHICH "SUCCESSION GAP" MAY OCCUR, WHAT REMEDIAL MEASURES WILL BE ADOPTED ΤΟ PREVENT THE ABILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO GOVERN FROM BEING AFFECTED AS A RESULT OF THE EXODUS AND RESHUFFLE OF STAFF IN FUTURE?

REPLY:

MR PRESIDENT,

IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION RAISED AT THE BRIEFING SESSION ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS ON 15 OCTOBER, I REGISTERED MY CONCERN THAT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, SOME SENIOR OFFICERS AGED OVER 50 MIGHT CHOOSE TO RETIRE EARLY AND THAT THIS MIGHT CAUSE SUCCESSION DIFFICULTIES IN SOME DEPARTMENTS, ONE OR TWO IN PARTICULAR.

CHEUNG

LET ME NOW ADDRESS THE THREE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS RAISED BY MR

-

(A)

AS I SAID AT THE BRIEFING SESSION ON 15 OCTOBER, WE HAVE NO HARD EVIDENCE ON THE NUMBER OF SENIOR OFFICERS WHO WILL BE RETIRING EARLY IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. OUR ASSESSMENT IS MAINLY BASED ON INFORMATION AND IMPRESSIONS OBTAINED FROM HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND OUR CONTACTS WITH INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS. IT IS THEREFORE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO PINPOINT ANY DEPARTMENTS SPECIFICALLY. MUCH WILL DEPEND ON DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NEXT 12 TO 18 MONTHS. BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT GIVEN THE SOUND STRUCTURE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND ITS PROVEN ABILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO OVERCOME SUCH PROBLEMS AS THEY ARISE, PROVIDED WE PREPARE ADEQUATELY. I HAVE RAISED THESE ISSUES, NOT TO CAUSE ALARM BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT MEMBERS OF THIS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ARE AWARE OF THEM, AND THE STEPS WE ARE TAKING TO ADDRESS THEM;

COUNCIL SUPPORT

/(B) I HAVE