The head of Hong Kong’s Public Service has dismissed claims that the city was becoming a police state after a Cabinet reshuffle elevated two hard-line law-and-order officials.
Secretary for the Civil Service, Patrick Nip Tak-kuen’s statement followed the swearing in of former Minister for Security, John Lee Ka-chiu as Chief Secretary, and the takeover of Mr Lee’s former portfolio by Police Chief, Chris Tang Ping-keung.
Mr Nip said talk of a police state was overblown, as the city’s 16 Secretaries, along with its political appointees and Public Servants all came from diverse backgrounds.
“It is an overstatement … Among the 180,000 Civil Servants we have clerical staff and disciplinary officers,” Mr Nip told reporters after a reception celebrating the 24th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty.
“We have different backgrounds and experiences. So I think the comments are basically incorrect,” he said.
Meanwhile, officials are still working on arrangements that would result in Public Servants in Hong Kong and Macau being exchanged with colleagues from the mainland.
Mr Nip said working with mainland authorities would enhance Hong Kong Public Servants’ capabilities in handling difficult situations.
The Secretary said some Government workers were still steeped in the administrative traditions left from the colonial era, stubbornly adhering to procedural justice and bureaucratic process but lacking proper judgment in a complex political environment.
A member of the Beijing-based Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, Tian Feilong said Hong Kong Public Servants needed a deeper understanding and recognition of “one country, two systems”.
“They need to think more about the constitution and the overall political system of China to make them loyal while enhancing their governance capability,” Mr Tian said.
Hong Kong, 2 July 2021
