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effective that can be done about the last two points. It
might in theory have been possible for the Government to
have foreseen the present overall shortage in certain
professions, but we should need to have done so 8 years ago
or more. With respect, I question whether anyone could in
practice have foreseen in 1970 the scale on which development
is now taking place in Hong Kong.
30..
That is not of course to say that there has been
no rational, forward planning of staff requirements, and in
some fields: for example Medical and Health, Education, Social
Welfare, Public Works and Legal, quite sophisticated forecasting
procedures have been operating for some years. However,
this is a field in which more needs to be done, particularly
in forecasting likely future requirements at the senior
professional and directorate levels.
31.
Returning to the general theme of localisation,
it is evident that despite our repeated declarations of
intent, and despite the fact that more and more local officers
are moving into the senior ranks of the civil service, we
have not succeeded in persuading many people of our sincerity
on this issue. This may be partly because no matter how
much we do, there is always so much more remaining to be
done.
32.
I take this opportunity therefore of stating,
unequivocally, that I regard it as one of my principal
tasks to implement the Government's localisation policy,
to do so firmly, and with fairness to all the officers
concerned, local and overseas alike.
33/...
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