TNAG-0940-FCO40-1159-Visits-by-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Ministers-and-officials-t-1980 — Page 128

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Mr Marrice

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Mr Bridgwood 16.3

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also at: HKAH31/393/6

MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE

VISIT TO HONG KONG 19 FEBRUARY-3 MARCH 1980 AND STAFFING QUESTIONS

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10 APE TO -ADMINISTRATIVE

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The following points emerged from discussions with a number of officials, including the Chief Secretary, the Secretary for the Civil Service, the Director of Administration Services and the Attorney-General.

Structure of Government

2.

The

The Chief Secretary is examining a number of points which have given him concern at the senior level. They all relate in different ways to the application and monitoring of overall policy.

3. The key question is whether the system of Secretaries, each in charge of a number of departments, is working properly. idea is that they should relieve the Chief Secretary of some of the burden of overlordship. They should in some sense act as Ministers in a Cabinet, concentrating on general policy and avoiding getting too enmeshed in departmental detail. Inevitably this has worked better in some areas than others. There has grown up a tendency for the Secretaries to form two groups: those working on general policy formation, eg the Secretary for Home Affairs, the Secretary for Information and in some senses the Secretary for the New Territories; and those concerned with resources, such as the Secretary for the Environment and the Secretary for Housing. In some cases there has been overlapping between Secretaries and Directors, in others the Secretaries have not had enough time to check that policy is being properly implemented in their various departments.

4.

He

The Chief Secretary is still considering these problems. is keeping an open mind, although he wants to make the present system work if possible. He would not altogether rule out, if necessary, the strengthening of the Chief Secretary's office, and perhaps the creation of a Deputy Governor post with more supervisory functions.

Civil Service conditions and morale

5. Both the Governor and Chief Secretary are concerned at signs that in a number of departments man management and personnel work have not been up to standard. This is particularly evident in the health departments where there have been industrial disputes involving the nurses, dispensers etc. In many cases decisions taken at policy level have been reasonable but communications have not been good enough to convey these down the line to the people on the job. More attention is being paid to the appointment of qualified Personnel Officers and a special Staff Management Unit has been set up in the Health Department.

MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE

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