Civil service reforms are not targeting only middle and low-ranking staff, a senior official said yesterday.
Responding to a questioner at a civil service forum who asked about the possibility of a separate reform for senior officials, Deputy Secretary for Civil Service Duncan Pescod said the possibility of a separate shake-up for senior staff could involve a ministerial system and needed public debate, but he denied they were escaping the shake-up.
'Directed retirement would affect senior officers,' he said, referring to the proposal that officials who lack ability for further promotion could be ordered to retire to make way for subordinates.
Asked why the Government had not commissioned a consultancy study on the reforms, Mr Pescod said the administration was always criticised for hiring consultants.
He said the reform had been proposed by the Government and had been worked on for four or five years.
The reforms say all basic rank officers - two-thirds of the 190,000 civil servants - will be employed on contracts, instead of permanent, pensionable terms.
