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actions may be taken against any officer who fails to report outside work. The Department has also requested all Section Heads to take appropriate measures to ensure that his/her subordinates fully understand the content of the circular.
MR. STEVEN HUNG CHUNG-FUN (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, since these incidents have taken place, I would like to know the number of staff engaged in outside work who should have reported their work to their superior officers?
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, as regards Mr. HUNG's request for figures, I will certainly ask the Department to give him a written reply after the meeting.
MR. TIM S. Manuel Chan (in Cantonese):-First of all, I would like to express my discontent because the reply is too simple. We really should ask the Department to give us a detailed reply. Mr. Stanley No's question is not an isolated incident and reflects a general situation. At this stage, I do not wish to raise more confrontational questions. But I hope the Department could tell us more rather than just saying that they have an internal circular. They should have told us what action they have taken against those who have violated the regulation. Besides, what internal enforcement measures are available to plug the loophole and prevent them from happening again? The Department should not just give us a brief reply to a rather serious problem.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-This is just your wish.
MR. TIM S. Manuel Chan (in Cantonese):--So, through you, Mr. Chairman, can we ask the Department to give us a more detailed answer? The Department must give details of disciplinary actions taken.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-There is no need to answer the question.
MR. LEUNG KAM-TAO (in Cantonese):—I would like to help Mr. CHAN to change his wish to a question. Can Mr. Suen tell us what measures the Department have to find out or to prevent staff from engaging in outside work?
Mr. Suen Kai-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—I think the Department is relatively passive on this issue. As far as active measures are concerned, we have already issued an internal circular to the effect that any staff engaging in outside work must apply for prior permission. If they do not apply for permission, they have already violated the regulation and would be subject to disciplinary action. This is a measure currently in force.
But since there are about 16,000 staff members in USD, we are unable to take any monitoring action because of the large number of staff involved. Secondly, if we are to investigate what they do outside office hours, we may infringe on the right of privacy. So in this regard, we will certainly clearly instruct them and take note of this problem. Of course, we will also handle any complaints if we receive any.
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actions may be taken against any officer who fails to report outside work. The Department has also requested all Section Heads to take appropriate measures to ensure that his/her subordinates fully understand the content of the circular.
MR. STEVEN HUNG CHUNG-FUN (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, since these incidents have taken place, I would like to know the number of staff engaged in outside work who should have reported their work to their superior officers?
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonesc):-Mr. Chairman, as regards Mr. HUNG's request for figures, I will certainly ask the Department to give him a written reply after the meeting.
MR. TIM S. Manuel Chan (in Cantonese):-First of all, I would like to express my discontent because the reply is too simple. We really should ask the Depart- ment to give us a detailed reply. Mr. Stanley No's question is not an isolated incident and reflects a general situation. At this stage, I do not wish to raise more confrontational questions. But I hope the Department could tell us more rather than just saying that they have an internal circular. They should have told us what action they have taken against those who have violated the regulation. Besides, what internal enforcement measures are available to plug the loophole and prevent them from happening again? The Department should not just give us a brief reply to a rather serious problem.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonesc):-This is just your wish.
MR. TIM S. Manuel Chan (in Cantonese);- -So, through you, Mr. Chairman, can we ask the Department to give us a more detailed answer? The Department must give details of disciplinary actions taken.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-There is no need to answer the question.
MR. LEUNG KAM-TAO (in Cantonese):—I would like to help Mr. CHAN to change his wish to a question. Can Mr. Suen tell us what measures the Department have to find out or to prevent staff from engaging in outside work?
Mr. Suen Kai-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—I think the Department is relatively passive on this issue. As far as active measures are concerned, we have already issued an internal circular to the effect that any staff engaging in outside work must apply for prior permission. If they do not apply for permission, they have already violated the regulation and would be subject to disciplinary action. This is a measure currently in force.
But since there are about 16 000 staff members in USD, we are unable to take any monitoring action because of the large number of staff involved. Secondly, it we are to investigate what they do outside office hours, we may infringe on the right of privacy. So in this regard, we will certainly clearly instruct them and to take note of this problem. Of course we will also handle any complaints if we receive any.
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