ENG-1969 — Page 353

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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urban cleansing and public health, and the police, are not always servants of the central Government. In Hong Kong, the establish- ments of the Medical and Health Department (9,927 posts), the Public Works Department (9,733 posts), the Urban Services Department (13,235 posts) and the Royal Hong Kong Police Force (14,064 posts) account for a total of 46,959 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 45,000 in 1959 and now to its present total strength of over 77,500 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 1969-70 the estimated expenditure on personal emoluments, excluding pensions, is about $796 million. This represents approximately 48 per cent of the estimated recurrent expenditure, or approximately 38 per cent of the estimated total expenditure included in the Budget.

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 utilised 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 Government, 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 and conditions of service in the Public Service is exercised by the Establishment Branch of the Colonial Secretariat.