ENG-1992 — Page 40

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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communication between the Hong Kong Government and foreign and Commonwealth missions in Hong Kong. These missions do, however, deal directly with the relevant departments of the Hong Kong Government over most day-to-day matters.

Public Service

The Public Service provides staff for all government departments and other units of the administration. With Hong Kong's centralised form of government, the Public Service operates a wide range of services which in many countries would be administered by other public authorities. These include public works and utilities, public health, education, fire services and the police force. The departments in charge of these areas, namely, the Lands and Works group of departments (24 509 posts), the Municipal Services group of departments (26 618), the Education Department (6 976), Fire Services Department (7 954), and the Royal Hong Kong Police (32 811) account for 52 per cent of the establishment of the whole Public Service. As at October 1, 1992, the total strength of the service was 183 374 or about 6.6 per cent of Hong Kong's work force. Over 98 per cent are local officers. The service is structured into some 420 grades or job categories in the administrative, professional, technical and manual fields, with about 1 210 ranks or job levels.

Overall responsibility for the management of the Public Service lies with the Civil Service Branch of the Government Secretariat. The branch deals with such matters as appoint- ments, pay and conditions of service, staff management, manpower planning, training and discipline. It is also the focal point for consultation with the principal staff associations. There are five departmental divisions each responsible for the full range of personnel management matters of a group of departments; and three functional divisions dealing with service-wide issues such as training, staff relations and pensions.

Recruitment and promotion to the middle and senior ranks of the Public Service are subject to the advice of the Public Service Commission which is independent of the government. The commission has a full time chairman and prominent citizens serving as members.

The government is advised on matters relating to pay and conditions of service by four independent bodies. The Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service advises on matters affecting directorate officers (the 1 000 or so most senior public servants). The Standing Committee on Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service advises on matters affecting judicial officers. The Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service advises on the salaries and conditions of service of the disciplined services. The Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service advises on matters affecting all other civil servants.

A civil service housing package, which comprises a Home Financing Scheme, an Accom- modation Allowance Scheme and an improved Home Purchase Scheme, was introduced in October 1990. The objective of the housing package is to make more effective use of the resources provided for civil service housing benefits and to encourage home ownership among public servants. Over 17 000 officers are currently receiving benefits under the schemes.

The government fully recognises the value of regular communication with staff. There are four central consultative councils, namely, the Senior Civil Service Council, the Model Scale 1 Staff Consultative Council, the Police Force Council and the Disciplined Services Consultative Council. Departmental consultative committees, established in most government departments, constitute an important part of the consultative machinery. In