XN000022-1994-11-09 — Page 34

(B)

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1994

I HAVE ATTACHED TO THE PRINTED VERSION OF MY REPLY A TABLE SHOWING THE NUMBER OF SENIOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS OFFICERS IN ALL DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE AGED 50 OR ABOVE AND WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR EARLY RETIREMENT UNDER THE OLD PENSION SCHEME SINCE APRIL THIS YEAR. THERE ARE 79 SUCH OFFICERS, BUT ONLY 4 OF THEM AT DIRECTORATE LEVEL. DEPARTMENTS WITH HIGHER NUMBERS OF EARLY RETIREES SUCH AS THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ARE ALSO DEPARTMENTS WITH A MUCH LARGER

ESTABLISHMENT;

(C)

WE HAVE SEEN SEVERAL RECENT PRESS REPORTS REFERRING TO A "SUCCESSION GAP" AND AN "EXODUS". BOTH ARE EMOTIVE TERMS AND WE MUST KEEP THE ISSUE IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE A WELL-ESTABLISHED STAFF PLANNING SYSTEM ΤΟ WHICH WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE.

SPECIFICALLY, WE HOLD REGULAR MEETINGS WITH HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR POLICY SECRETARIES TO REVIEW SUCCESSION PLANNING, TO IDENTIFY OFFICERS WITH POTENTIAL TO FILL SENIOR POSITIONS, AND TO DETERMINE HOW TO DEVELOP THEIR POTENTIAL THROUGH SUCH THINGS AS SPECIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND SECONDMENT TO POLICY BRANCHES. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR WE ARE SENDING ABOUT 40 SUCH OFFICERS ON SPECIAL MANAGEMENT COURSES OVERSEAS AND SECONDMENTS TO POLICY BRANCHES. THIS NUMBER WILL INCREASE TO 50 IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.

OF

OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A POOL OF PROMISING YOUNG OFFICERS AND ARE ACTIVELY GROOMING THEM. MANY THEM ARE NOW READY TO TAKE ON HIGHER RESPONSIBILITIES. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE EARLY RETIREMENT OF SOME SENIOR OFFICERS, THOUGH A REGRETTABLE LOSS OF EXPERIENCE, IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REGENERATION.

TO CONCLUDE, WHILE I DO NOT WANT TO UNDERESTIMATE THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A WELL-ESTABLISHED SYSTEM TO ENABLE US TO COPE SHOULD THE PROBLEM ARISE. WE WILL CLOSELY MONITOR THE SITUATION AND ENHANCE THE VARIOUS STEPS WE ARE TAKING WITH THE AIM OF ENSURING STABILITY AND CONTINUITY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER 1997.

/APPLICATIONS FOR