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Following is a question by the Hon Li Fung-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (October 13):

Question:

The Administration plans to merge the Environment Branch of the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau into the Environmental Protection Department ("EPD") on April 1 next year, and to delete four directorate and 29 non-directorate posts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the titles of the posts proposed to be deleted, and the future work arrangements for the existing staff members in these posts; and

(b) as the work of EPD often involves professional knowledge and judgement, of the reasons for the relevant authorities' decision to fill some EPD posts at Assistant Director or above ranks by staff from the Administrative Officer grade instead of from the professional grade, after the merger?

Reply:

Madam President,

The objectives of the proposed merger of the Environment Branch (EB) of the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) are to promote a closer link between the formulation and implementation of policies and to delayer the decision-making process. The proposal has been precipitated by a fundamental belief that the merged entity will be able to provide better services to the public and cope with new challenges in environmental protection.

The merger of EB and EPD does not involve any forced redundancy. The four directorate posts to be removed from the existing structure as a result of delayering are as follows: -

(a) the post of the Director of Environmental Protection (D5) where the incumbent will commence pre-retirement leave on April 1, 2005;

(b) one Principal Assistant Secretary post (D2/AOSGC) in EB where the incumbent will be redeployed; and

(c) two Principal Environmental Protection Officer posts (D1) which will be deleted as a result of the second Voluntary Retirement Scheme.

29 non-directorate posts have also been identified for removal before April 1, 2005 through natural wastage or departure under the second Voluntary Retirement Scheme. They are as follows: -

Rank                                              Number




Senior Environmental Protection Officer             5




Environmental Protection Officer                     3




Chief Environmental Protection Inspector            3




Senior Environmental Protection Inspector         11




Clerical Officer                                  2




Assistant Clerical Officer                        4


Typist                                            1

Total 29

All these proposed deletions are preliminary proposals only. Their actual deletion will have to be confirmed when the staffing plans for the new organisation are finalised. Some of these proposed deletions may be reviewed should demand of resources for new services be identified.

It is the posting policy of the Government to select the most suitable candidate available at the time of the selection, having regard to job requirements, operational needs, and the experience and personal attributes of individual officers. The head of the new organisation, the Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Environment) and Director of Environmental Protection (PSE/DEP), will be a D6 officer who directly oversees all operational matters relating to environmental protection while assuming the policy formulation functions in support of the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works. A wide range of competencies is therefore required. The post of PSE/DEP will initially be filled by an Administrative Officer. In the longer term, all professional officers meeting the job requirements of the PSE/DEP post would be considered. In addition, one out of the three Deputy Director posts and five out of the seven Assistant Director posts in the new organisation will be filled by professional officers from the existing EPD in order to provide adequate technical support to the new organisation.

Ends/Wednesday, October 13, 2004

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