ENG-1964 — Page 317

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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expansion in the Public Service is limited to the provision of essen- tial, as opposed to simply desirable, activities.

The growth has been accompanied by a determined effort to fill as many posts as possible with local candidates, particularly in more senior grades. Between 1963 and 1964 the percentage of administrative and professional posts filled by local officers in- creased from 43.8 per cent to 46.3 per cent. In 1959 it was 37.8 per cent. Over the Service as a whole, the percentage of overseas officers is 2.9 per cent. Training of local staff forms an important part of the programme. The Training Unit ran a total of 42 courses cen- trally during the year ending 31st March 1964; and 109 local officers were sent overseas during the year to obtain professional qualifica- tions or training.

The Public Services Commission continued to play a valuable part in maintaining standards in the Public Service, by advising on the qualifications to be prescribed for various posts and on the selection of candidates for appointment; the Commission also takes an active part in ensuring a high standard of efficiency by advising on the passage of the efficiency bars which occur at various points in the salary scales of all officers serving on time scales who come within the purview of the Commission. Since 1961 these have not included the more junior posts, appointments to which are no longer referred to the Commission. A Selection Board in London deals with applications from persons of Hong Kong origin studying or working in the United Kingdom. Encouraging results are being achieved and free passages are provided for successful candidates and their families to return to Hong Kong to take up appointment.

BAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARIES

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