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Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau Wai-hing and a written reply by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr W K Lam, in the Legislation Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Regarding the granting of acting allowance to civil servants who take up temporary acting appointments in government departments, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:

(a) of the rationale for granting acting allowance to civil servants in government departments, given that most private companies do not grant such allowance to their staff;

(b) of the total amount of such allowance granted in the last financial year; and

(c) whether consideration will be given to abolishing such allowance?

Answer:

Madam President,

Acting appointment are made in the civil service mainly in the following circumstances:

(1) Before promoting an officer, departments or grades may require the officer to act in the promotion rank for a specified period to test his/her suitability. The officer will be substantively promoted only if his performance during the acting period is up to the standard required.

(2) For short-term operational needs, departments or grades may also arrange for individual officers to act in or cover the duties of other posts which are temporarily vacant (e.g. when an officer takes vacation leave or sick leave).

During the period of acting, an officer will only be granted an acting allowance in accordance with the Civil Service Regulations. The fringe benefits at his original rank will remain unchanged.

The answers to the specific questions are as follows:

(a) The payment of acting allowance to officers taking up acting appointments is to give recognition to the additional duties and responsibilities shouldered by the officers as mentioned in the circumstances above.

(b) In the financial year 1997-98, Government has paid about $0.69 billion as acting allowance for the various acting arrangements above. This amounts to about 1.3 per cent of the civil service payroll for the same period and covers acting allowance paid to all civil servants in government departments, trading funds as well as those working in subvented organisations.

(c) Civil Service Bureau review from time to time the various provisions in the Civil Service Regulations. We would review when necessary the arrangements for making acting appointments and the payment of acting allowance.

End/Wednesday, January 6, 1999

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