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Press
Releases - 2000
EPD
holds conferences to enhance productivity
In response
to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection
Department (EPD) said today (Monday) that conferences organised
for EPD staff on January 27 and 28 were aimed at enhancing
productivity.
A full-day
programme was held on January 28 at the Hong Kong Jockey Club
for the Air Management Group of the EPD with six themes.
They
were: quality through teamwork, collective strengths and weaknesses
of teams, managing change as a team, striving for excellence
as a team, building inter-team teamwork, and improving teamwork
and quality of work.
The conference
was organised by a management consultant that has provided
many similar conferences for large corporations as well as
government departments.
The spokesman
said: "The venue was arranged by the management consultant
considering space required for activities of this kind.
"A venue
away from their normal office setting would also facilitate
staff to open themselves for full participation."
Participants
were required to pay for the lunch.
The feedback
from staff has been very good and a review will be prepared
by the consultant.
As for
the conference on January 27, it was a half-day annual meeting
of the EPD's Assessment and Audit Group.
"It provided
a chance for group members to review their work in the past
year and work out future plans and direction," the spokesman
said.
It was
a half-day programme held at a meeting room of the Clear Water
Bay Golf and Country Club.
"It was
selected as a retreat venue as it provided a quiet environment
free from interruption for discussion.
"It is
a common practice in the private sector to hold retreats outside
office venues to provide a different environment for stimulating
thoughts," the spokesman said.
After
a lunch between 1 pm and 2 pm, the review started and lasted
until 4.30 pm. There was a coffee break in between.
The staff
were released as the normal office hours of some of them were
up to 4.30 pm.
Transport
was then arranged to send officers back. For those who left
behind, sports facilities were provided.
The cost
of the conference was met voluntarily by the Principal and
Senior Environmental Protection Officers of the Assessment
and Audit Group.
End/Monday,
January 31, 2000
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