EC(1999-2000)3

For discussion
on 21 April 1999

ITEM FOR ESTABLISHMENT SUBCOMMITTEE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 28 - CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT
Subhead 001 Salaries
    Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the deletion of the following permanent posts in the Civil Aviation Department -

      1 Airport General Manager
      (D2) ($116,650 - $123,850)

      2 Deputy Airport General Managers
      (D1) ($98,250-$104,250)

PROBLEM

Consequent to the closure of the Kai Tak Airport on 6 July 1998 and the transfer of the airport management responsibility to the Airport Authority (AA), there is no need to retain the Airport General Manager (AGM) post and the two Deputy AGM posts in the Airport Management Division (AMD) of the Civil Aviation Department (CAD).

PROPOSAL

2. The Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) proposes to delete the AGM and the two Deputy AGM posts.

JUSTIFICATION

3. The AMD of CAD was previously responsible for the management of the Kai Tak Airport. It was headed by an AGM who was underpinned by two Deputy AGMs. Upon the closure of the Kai Tak Airport, CAD was relieved of the duty of managing the airport. Similar duty at the new airport has since then been undertaken by the AA. The three directorate posts in AMD were no longer needed for operational purposes. These posts have not been filled since the incumbents left the department after taking their pre-retirement leave. Following the departure of the last post holder from the post on 29 December 1998, we now propose to formally delete these three directorate posts from the establishment. A total of 207 non-directorate posts of AMD had already been deleted from CAD*s establishment by February 1999.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

4. Savings in the notional annual mid-point salary and full annual average staff cost in this proposal are -


Notional annual
mid-point
salary
$ 		Full annual
average staff
cost
$ 		No. of posts
AGM1,443,0002,458,8381
Deputy AGM2,426,4004,173,5762
__________________________
3,869,4006,632,4143
__________________________

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

5. The AMD of CAD was responsible for the management of the then Kai Tak Airport. Responsibilities included safe and efficient operation of the aircraft parking aprons, maintenance of the physical integrity of the airfield and compliance with international aviation security standards. The Division was also responsible for efficient utilisation of passenger facilities, provision of a comfortable and friendly Passenger Terminal environment and optimisation of revenue opportunities from the commercial and property interests within the airport. Upon the closure of the Kai Tak Airport on 6 July 1998, similar duties at the new airport are undertaken by the AA.

CIVIL SERVICE BUREAU COMMENTS

6. Civil Service Bureau supports the deletion of the three directorate posts.

ADVICE OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

7. The deletion of the posts, if approved, will be reported to the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service in accordance with the agreed procedure.

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Economic Services Bureau
April 1999