Balancing act: Secretary for Civil Service Joseph Wong said the proposal to create the post of assistant to principal official must meet the target of maintaining the political neutrality of the civil service.

A proposal to create the post of an assistant to principal official must be handled with care and civil servants' doubts must be cleared on any new arrangements, Secretary for Civil Service Joseph Wong says.

Speaking at RTHK's "Dialogue with Secretaries" this morning, Mr Wong said the proposal Donald Tsang mooted must meet the two targets of strengthening the Government's political level and maintaining civil servants' neutrality.

He said both targets can be achieved, but the issue has to be handled with care, in particular the relationship between secretaries and the civil service.

Mr Wong said Mr Tsang had indicated he would discuss the idea with senior civil servants first.

On the role of Administrative Officers in the civil service system, Mr Wong said they are important in taking up the political task of explaining policies to the public, adding they have the prospect of getting political appointments.

But he has reservations on the proposal that they be able re-enter the civil service after a period of political appointment because he has concerns over their political neutrality.

Turning to civil service reform, Mr Wong said an independent consultant has been appointed to select 200 civil service posts and compare their pay levels with similar counterparts in the private sector.

He said the results, expected to be ready by end of this year, will be used to set future recruits' pay levels.

Mr Wong said the consultant has to fully consult the community and the civil service on the issue before tendering its professional recommendations, adding the survey results will be published and its credibility must be ensured.

He stressed consensus must be reached before taking any decision, and the present comparatively stable pay levels should make the survey result more acceptable to all parties concerned.

On the scheme of no-pay leave, Mr Wong said more than 27,000 civil servants from over 80 grades are entitled, and about 20,000 of them are aged below 40 with a qualification below Form 5 level.

He hoped they can make use of the scheme to study and equip themselves to raise their work efficiency.

Talking about streamlining the civil service, Mr Wong said there is good progress as the establishment has been reduced from the peak of 198,000 in 2000 to the present 165,000, with an actual strength of 159,000.

He expected the establishment will be cut to 163,000 in March next year, and fall to 161,000 in March 2007.

Mr Wong said the number of contract staff has also been cut about 10% in the past year, to 14,000, stressing all along they are contract staff and not civil servants replacements.

He added there is no plan for a third round of the comprehensive voluntary retirement scheme as it would not likely be effective in streamlining the civil service. A review on individual grades will be considered, though.