Following a report by the committee reviewing post-service employment for directorate-grade civil servants, public attention has focused mainly on one of 23 recommendations: to extend the control period for the most senior civil servants from three years to five, and from two years to three for the next most senior grades.
Senior civil servants were upset by this recommendation. Yet the pan-democratic members on the committee - and most of the public - did not consider that the proposed extension could remove the suspicion or perception of a 'deferred reward'.
The proposed five-year control period for permanent secretaries would be in stark contrast to the existing one-year control period for their political masters, who are ultimately responsible for all major government decisions. Many legislators are already demanding a review of the control regime for all politically appointed officers.
The government said it would consider the committee's recommendations carefully. I suggest it adopts a two-pronged approach in dealing with this hot potato.
First, it should not lose sight of the fact that, of the 23 recommendations put forward, 19 received unanimous support. Most, if not all, of these should be implemented as quickly as possible. This would improve the operation of the existing scheme and raise public confidence.
For example, it was recommended that membership of the advisory committee on post-service employment should be expanded to nine members (including the chairman), with a broader composition. Possible candidates for appointment include former directorate civil servants and former or serving legislators.
There is also good reason to implement other non-controversial recommendations, such as the requirement for applicants to provide more information. Civil servants should welcome the implementation of recommendations that require the government to set up review and appeal channels on rejected cases and to make a performance pledge on the time needed to process an application.