Performance pledge timing 'coincidental'

MOVES to improve the standard of public services have been announced by two more government departments in time for the Governor's annual policy address.

But both the Customs and Excise Department and the Education Department denied the announcements were timed to put them in Chris Patten's good books.

Tong Kang-sing, deputy commissioner of the Customs and Excise Department said: ''It has taken us quite a while to come up with the pledge because our coverage is so wide.

''The pledge, which is quite lengthy, was actually finalised in July but it has taken until now to have it cleared by the three policy branches we cover, although the timing is purely accidental.'' The department's pledge was due to be published by next Wednesday but Mr Tong said there had been no rush to make the announcement before the Governor's speech.

In its pledge the Customs and Excise Department said it would improve a wide range of services including the making of import and export declarations, applications for licences and permits, and the clearance of detained cargo and border-crossing vehicles.

The second well-timed move came from the Education Department which announced that it was inviting the public to join a sub-committee of the Board of Education set up to monitor its performance pledges.

Education Services manager, Anthony Tong Kai-hong, said: ''With the participation of customers of educational services, the transparency of the education system and the responsiveness of the education authorities will be increased.'' Almost one year after announcing the adoption of performance pledges in an effort to improve the standard of public services, this might be just what the Governor wanted to hear.

But the department denied that the move had been timed to coincide with the policy address. Mr Tong said: ''The Board of Education gave the sub-committee the go-ahead last week and we thought it made sense to introduce it at the beginning of the new school year.

''The timing has not been engineered by us in any way.'' All departments providing direct services to the public are expected to make performance pledges by the end of next year.

Since last year, more than 20 departments have published their performance pledges.

Meanwhile, Mr Patten is likely to consume a deluge of black coffee to keep himself going during next Thursday's marathon meet-the-public roadshow to answer questions on his policy address.

In the second of what are now annual question-and-answer sessions, Mr Patten will use the radio, television and the good, old-fashioned public forum to answer scores of questions about his policy speech to be delivered on Wednesday.

The black coffee will be supplied by RTHK when he begins answering the first questions at 7 am during its non-stop 11/4-hour show, hosted by Kit Cumings and Chen Yeu-wah. About 15 phone lines will be available to handle what last year proved to be a verypopular phone-in.

After lunch back at Government House, Mr Patten will spend 90 minutes at Legco before popping back home for a quick bite to eat.