Newsletter No. 13

CUHK Newsletter Professorial Appointments Dr. Kuan Hsin-chi and Dr. Byron S. J. Weng have been appointed as professors of government and public administration from 1st January 1991. • Dr. Kuan graduated with an LLB degree from National Chengchi University’ Taiwan in 1963 and pursued postgraduate studies in Germany. He obtained his MA degree from Free University of Berlin in 1967 and his Ph.D. degree from the University of Munich in 1972. He then joined The Chinese University as lecturer in government and public administration in 1973 and was promoted to senior lecturer in 1981 and reader in 1987. He is concurrently dean of the Faculty of Social Science and director of the Universities Service Centre. Dr. Kuan is married, with three children. • Dr. Byron S.J. Weng was trained in law at National Taiwan University and graduated with an LLB degree in 1957. He then furthered his studies in the United States at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where he received his MS degree in 1962 and Ph.D. in 1971. Dr. Weng first joined The Chinese University in 1972-74 as lecturer of the Department of Government and Public Administration while on leave from the Wright State University, Ohio. In 1978, he joined this University again as senior lecturer in government and public administration and was promoted to reader in 1981. Dr. Weng is married, with two children. Staffing Arrangements on Christmas & New Year's Eves The following staffing arrangements for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve have been endorsed by theUniversity since 1983 and will apply on 24th and 31st December this year: a. For essential service units such as the Health Service, the Library System, the Operation Unit of the Computer Services Centre, the Security Unit and the Maintenance Office of the Buildings Office, a task force should remain on duty on both days to provide regular services. b. For all other offices in the University, a skeleton crew should be appointed to be on duty in the morning to handle urgent matters and answer enquiries. These offices will be closed in the afternoon. c. The skeleton staff on duty on either day will be given compensation leave of half a day. Gifts? Bribery? The University is a public body listed under the Schedule of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (CAP 201, Laws of Hong Kong). All University employees are classified as ‘public servants' under the Ordinance and should be wary of accepting gifts which could be construed as being offered to them in connection with their ‘public' duties. As the Christmas and New Year holidays are approaching, members of the staff who wish to give away or accept any gifts in this festive season and who are in doubt as to whether such gifts are permissible under the law should first consult the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. Copies of the Ordinance are available for reference at the University Library and its branch libraries, as well as the Information Office (Room 205, University Administration Building). Home Financing Scheme From Sophie Lau, the Director of Personnel: The government has recently introduced new housing arrangements for c i v il servants to encourage home ownership and to make more effective use of available resources. Under the new scheme, local officers on the master pay scale (MPS) point 34 and above will be eligible for a home financing allowance that can be used to purchase their own homes. Serving officers appointed before 1st October 1990 who have not joined the Home Purchase Scheme will have the option of maintaining their existing housing benefits (i.e. private tenancy allowances or non-departmental quarters) or acceptin g the home financing allowance. Expatriate staff appointed after that date will receive an accommodation allowance that can be applied against the lease of their own homes. The Home Purchase Scheme will continue for officers on MPS points 22 to 33 and for those below point 22 who have completed 20 years of service, and will be extended to cover also staff on model scale one with 20 years of service, subject to a quota. 6