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SCMP Reporter

Hong Kong and Singapore are exploring an exchange programme for civil servants.

  The exchanges could take place within 12 months 'if we apply our minds to it', Financial Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was quoted as telling The Straits Times in Singapore.

  Mr Tsang said he had raised the subject with Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Osaka, Japan in November.

  Hong Kong was running critically short of talent, said Mr Tsang. One obstacle to the exchange was finding officials who could be spared from their duties.

   Deputy Secretary for Civil Service Patrick Lau Lai-chiu said similar programmes were in place with Canada and Australia.

  He said senior civil servants were selected to be seconded to the scheme.

  Only one or two joined the programme each year, he said.

  The Civil Service Branch was working out details of the exchange programme with Singapore.

  'Although Hong Kong and Singapore are said to be competitors, it's a good thing to understand each other's culture and government structure,' said Mr Lau.

  Singapore is the second leg of Mr Tsang's tour of Southeast Asia that started on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur and will end in Bangkok next week.



Singapore scheme for civil servants