BROADCASTING DIVISION (Turnover rate of Division I officers)

Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Culture (a) what turnover rate there has been in the Broadcasting Division in respect of Division I officers in 1973, 1974 and the first ten months of 1975; and (b) whether any vacancies in Division I posts exist, and what steps are being taken to fill those vacancies.

The Acting Minister for Culture (Mr Lee Khoon Choy): Mr Speaker, Sir, the turnover rate is as follows: Turnover Rate of Divsion I officers Resignations Appointments (1 Engineer ) (1 Senior Technical Officer) 1973 4 (1 Producer ) 1 (Producer) (1 News Editor ) (1 Accountant ) (1 Engineer ) 1974 4 (1 Producer ) 2 (Producers) (1 News Editor) (1 Producer ) 1975 1 (Producer) 5 (1 Engineer ) (Jan- (2 Editors ) Oct) (1 Senior Reporter) The vacancy position is as follows: No. of % age of Vacancies Establistment Producer/Assistant Producer 11 11.8 Editor/Sub-Editor 5 (including 1 13.1 Sub-editor leaving in December) Senior Reporter/Reporter 1 8.3

A recruitment exercise is currently in progress for the post of Editor/Sub-Editor and Senior Reporter/Reporter. The closing date for applications was 31st October 1975. It is hoped that the vacancies can be filled by the end of this year. A promotion exercise will be launched in the near future for the majority of the vacancies in the post of Producer for serving Assistant Producers and Assistant Producer for serving Division III officers with Production experience. Outstanding vacancies will be filled by recruitment/ad hoc appointments whenever suitable candidates are found. Generally, however, new recruits are able to contribute only after six months in service. In the Engineering Section, the Department has presently four vacancies out of a total establishment of 22 in the grade of Senior Technical Officer. Since there is a promotional post for serving Senior Technicians and Technical Officers, a service-wide promotion exercise is being conducted by the Public Service Commission and this should also be completed by December 1975.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not know whether the Acting Minister for Culture would care to answer this question. Is he aware that sometimes there are slip-ups in the reading of the news bulletin over the FM stereo service at the 6.30 p.m. as well as the 7.00 o'clock news? There was an occasion when I heard the 6.30 news over the FM transmission, but when the news was repeated at 7.00 p.m., the reader said, "The time is now 6.30 p.m. Here is the news."

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: Mr Speaker, Sir, the main question is about the turnover rate of Division I officers in the Broadcasting Division. If the Member wants to ask such a supplementary question, he should take another opportunity.

Mr Conceicao: Mr Speaker, Sir, I wonder if the Acting Minister for Culture considers this rate of turnover to be high. If so, what are the reasons for such a rate.

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would not consider this turnover rate as high. Those who resign, especially officers in Division I, do not give reasons. They do not have to give reasons. Another factor is that there is too much attraction of better pay in the private sector. Of course, the Ministry provides encouragement to existing officers by giving them opportunities to attend seminars or overseas training, and we hope that they will cultivate the spirit of dedication. We also hope that the Chinese saying Yiu nai pien shih liang will not apply to the most dedicated officers.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, if that is the case, would the Acting Minister for Culture consider the present scheme in which certain levels of senior officers are given extra perks in order to retain them in the civil service?

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: Sir, I do not consider the opportunity to attend seminars or assignments and training overseas as perks.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I think the Acting Minister misunderstood me. What I mean is this. In view of the high turnover rate of these Division I officers, will he consider giving them extra perks similar to those enjoyed by the other categories of senior officers in the civil service?

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: Sir, if we continue to give perks to civil servants, the private sector will top them all. What will happen then? I think the main problem, as I have said, is that we expect from the civil servants some kind of dedication and interest in their work rather than working just for the money.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Hear, hear!