For discussion EC(96-97)41
on 6 November 1996
ITEM FOR ESTABLISHMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
HEAD 74 - INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT
HEAD 142 - GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT : OFFICES OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Subhead 001 Salaries
Members are invited to -
- recommend to Finance Committee the transfer of one permanent directorate post of Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) ($102,900 - $109,250); and
- note the transfer of 24 non-directorate posts;
from the Information Co-ordinators Office under Head 142 Government Secretariat : Offices of the Chief Secretary and the Financial Secretary to Head 74 Information Services Department with effect from 1 April 1997.
PROBLEM
The Director of Information Services (DIS) has taken over the responsibilities of the Information Co-ordinators (ICs) Office in the Offices of the Chief Secretary (CS) and the Financial Secretary (FS). This requires consequential rationalisation in the establishment of the Information Services Department (ISD) and the Offices of the CS and FS.
PROPOSAL
2. We propose the transfer of one post of Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (AOSGC) (D2) from the ICs Office to the ISD.
JUSTIFICATION
3. There are currently two organisations responsible for public relation (PR) and information services - the ISD and the ICs Office. The former is responsible for providing all the necessary information and PR support service while the latter for developing an overall PR strategy and advisory service and managing six Secretariat Press Office teams serving the policy branches in the Government Secretariat.
4. In late 1994, the Administration commissioned a review of the Government information structure. The objective was to re-examine the structure and roles of the offices responsible for the development of Governments PR strategy and its implementation, both locally and overseas, and to make recommendations with particular regard to, among other things, the responsibilities and resources of the ISD and the ICs Office. The review concluded that the ICs Office should be placed under the charge of DIS.
5. We accept the review recommendation that the existence of two organisations for PR services draws a largely artificial line between the formulation of a PR strategy and its execution. This structure can run counter to enforcing a seamless consistency in the Governments PR approach and may reduce rather than enhance the effectiveness of the PR service as a whole. We therefore propose the transfer of the following posts from the ICs Office to ISD -
- One AOSGC who is now serving as the Press Secretary to the Chief Secretary and the Financial Secretary, to be designated Press Secretary to CS/FS; and
- 24 non-directorate posts at a total NAMS value of $4,263,300, as listed in Enclosure 1, to provide the necessary support to the Press Secretary and six Secretariat Press Office teams serving the policy branches in the Government Secretariat.
6. Following the proposed transfer, the Press Secretary to CS/FSs responsibility for the line management of the six Secretariat Press Office teams will be taken up by the Assistant Director of Information Services (Public Relations). The Press Secretary to CS/FS will thus be able to concentrate on providing PR advisory service to the CS and FS. The job description of the Press Secretary to CS/FS before and after the proposed transfer are at Enclosures 2and 3 respectively. An existing and proposed organisation chart of ISD is at Enclosure 4.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
7. The proposal will not necessitate the creation of any additional directorate and non-directorate posts. Subject to Members approval, we shall reflect the proposed transfer of the AOSGC as well as the 24 non-directorate post in the 1997-98 draft Estimates.
CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH COMMENTS
8. CSB supports the proposal to transfer the 25 posts concerned from the Government Secretariat : Offices of the Chief Secretary and the Financial Secretary to the Information Services Department.
ADVICE OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
9. The Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service has advised that the grading proposed for the post of AOSGC after transfer would be appropriate.
Home Affairs Branch
October 1996
Enclosure 1 to EC(96-97)41
Posts to be transferred from Head 142 Government Secretariat : Offices of the Chief Secretary and Financial Secretary to Head 74 Information Services Department
|
Rank
|
No.
|
Notional
Annual
Mid-point
Salary (NAMS)
|
Total
NAMS
$
|
|
Administrative Officer
|
1
|
582,240
|
582,240
|
|
Executive Officers II
|
1
|
298,200
|
298,200
|
|
Personal Secretary I
|
1
|
258,300
|
258,300
|
|
Personal Secretary II
|
7
|
160,980
|
1,126,860
|
|
Clerical Officer I
|
1
|
258,300
|
258,300
|
|
Clerical Officer II
|
2
|
160,980
|
321,960
|
|
Clerical Assistant
|
7
|
125,460
|
878,220
|
|
Confidential Assistant
|
1
|
192,600
|
192,600
|
|
Typist
|
1
|
125,460
|
125,460
|
|
Office Assistant
Total :
|
2
24
|
110,580
|
221,160
4,263,300
|
Enclosure 2 to EC(96-97)41
Job Description of the AOSGC Post (before the transfer of post to ISD)
- providing a public relations advisory service to the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary and the Policy Secretaries in the Government Secretariat;
- liaising with the media on behalf of the Chief Secretary and the Financial Secretary, including responding to press questions and requests for interviews and information, and issuing press releases and statements for the Chief Secretarys Office and the Financial Secretarys Office;
- supervising and managing of the six Secretarial Press Office teams serving Policy Branches in the Secretariat;
- drafting the public reaction and publicity paragraphs in Executive Council Memoranda; and
- servicing the Governors Public Relations Group.
Enclosure 3 to EC(96-97)41
Job Description of the AOSGC Post (after transfer of post to ISD)
Assisting the Director of Information Services in :-
- advising attendance of CS and FS at public functions, including subjects of public speeches;
- arranging media functions, including interviews, for CS and FS;
- handling media enquiries relating to CS and FS, and acting as their spokesman;
- monitoring media reaction to activities of CS and FS, and initiating follow-up action;
- drafting messages for CS and FS for publication in the print media; and
- collating lines-to-take, with the assistance of the SPOs, on topical issues.
Last Updated on 12 August 1999
