Changes proposed
in civil
service
The controversial McKinsey Report on the efficiency of the Hongkong public service will 'be published within two weeks.
The Report contains recommendations which will lead to sweeping changes in the manner in which the Colony is being governed.
Many of the recommendations have already been quietly adopted and are in use in various departments, notably the "Colonial Secretariat.
The Secretariat, the clearing house of the Government through which almost all new proposals must be channelled. is in line for
• a number of major changes.
Legislative Councillors are expected to closely study the detailed Report over the next few weeks.
Despite criticism levelled at the McKinsey survey by some high-ranking public servants, the Government has, as a whole, welcomed the searching investigation into the methods of the civil service.
And it has largely accepted the recommendations made by the -team of three n.anagement experts who made a one-year study of i
how the Hongkong Government works.
Two of the proposals are:
That the Government be run on a Cabinet-style system. with a group of about seven powertul "overlords” in charge of various programmes.
Although this does not necessarily mean a combination of various Departments into major blocs, it is understood the "overlords" will be in overall command of co-ordinating programmes in fields like housing which may involve a number of Departments.
That the Police Force be administered on more efficient lines, with civilians and women police doing the office jobs, and wwith trained policemen on the beat instead of behind desks. (This
policy has already been largely accepted and implemented.)
The investigation into the decision-making processes of the Government began in March last year when the senior partner of the London-based management consultancy firm of McKinsey and Company. Dr Alcon Copisarow. made a preliminary study and advised the Governor that a full-scale investigation would be of use to the civil service and the Government.
*Tite three man teum of experts arrived shortly and began their study.
Reliable sources said yesterday, that the men → Mr Roger Holland. Mr Martin Beresford and Mr Mark Weedon - have examined at least nine departments and have questioned hundreds of public servants about the way in which they do their **daily work.
*
From these inquiries have come proposals which will revolutionalise the Government and the public service, according No one man who has seen the report.
"The taxpayers have paid more than $2 million for this report and, from what I can see, they have got value for money,” he said.
"The suggestions in the report are sound and sensible and "Streamline the work of the Government. and make communication easier between the various working departments and the Colonial Secretariat."
The seven co-ordinators, who will act as "overlords" of Government programmes, are expected to be recruited exclusively from the higher ranks of the present public service.
The McKinsey experts will be making periodic visits to the Colony to see how their recommendations are working in » practice.
The team will return in about two months and the visits will continue for a number of years.
Asked for details about the survey, a Colonial Secretariat spokesman said yesterday:
"The McKinsey wam has made a large number of recommendations on the detailed operations of Government, all of which are the subject of experimentation at present.
"A paper containing their overall recommendations will shortly be tabled at the legislative Council and will be the subject
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
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MAY 17H
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