ENG-1968 — Page 385

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

291

(9,692 posts), the Public Works Department (9,544 posts), the Urban Services Department (13,170 posts), and the Police Force (13,251 posts) account for a total of 45,657 posts or about 61 per cent of the total establishment of the Service.

The growth in the size of the Service from just over 17,500 in 1949 to about 45,500 in 1959 and now to its present total strength of over 75,000 reflects not only the continuing expansion of existing services, in line with the continuing expansion of the population, but also the development of new and more diverse services to meet the changing needs of the population. However, in recent years, there has been some slowing down of the rate of expansion and it now stands at about three per cent per annum.

The cost of the Public Service is reflected in the expenditure on personal emoluments. For the financial year 1968-9 the estimated expenditure on personal emoluments, excluding pensions is about $694 million. This represents approximately 47 per cent of the estimated recurrent expenditure, or approximately 35 per cent of the estimated total expenditure, included in the Budget. Notwithstand- ing the Service's expansion, the percentage of direct recurrent expenditure is lower than it has been for a number of years.

The establishment of each post in the Public Service requires the approval of the Finance Committee of Legislative Council, assisted by the advice of its Establishment sub-committee which examines all requests received from departments for additional posts, both for new projects and to meet increasing work-loads, to ensure that staff is properly utilized and that new posts are provided only when they are essential.

Recruitment and promotions to the Public Service are, with certain exceptions, subject to the advice and overall scrutiny of the Public Services Commission, a body independent of the Govern- ment, set up in 1950. Sir Charles Hartwell, CMG, is the full-time chairman of the Commission, and local leading citizens are appointed as members of the Commission on a part-time voluntary basis.

Overall responsibility for recruitment, promotion, training, con- ditions of service, grading and complementing in the Public Service is exercised by the Establishment Branch of the Colonial Secretariat.

A notable event in the history of the Public Service which occurred during the year was the conclusion of a formal agreement between