Future applicants to Hong Kong’s Public Service are to be required to pass a new test showing they have a thorough understanding of the city’s controversial National Security Law.
The law makes it easier to punish protesters and critics believe it has reduced the city’s autonomy.
They claim it has fundamentally changed Hong Kong since it was introduced in June 2020.
Hong Kong’s Civil Service Bureau said the decision to include a test on the law in the recruitment process would make the overall assessment better suited to the requirements of the relevant Public Service posts.
In a policy address last month (October), Chief Executive, Carrie Lam said it was necessary to enhance Public Servants’ understanding of the Constitution and the Basic Law, reinforce a sense of national identity and deepen their capability for broad and strategic thinking.
Critics have said that the changes could put people off applying for the Public Service.
“Front-line and technical staff members will not apply the laws in their daily work, so why do they need to be assessed on them?” Chief Executive of the Federation of Civil Service Unions, Leung Chau-ting said.
Applications to the Public Service have dropped by 30 per cent this year compared to 2020.
The drop was highlighted by head of the Public Service, Patrick Nip Tak-kuen earlier in October when he said a recruitment drive had attracted only 9,700 applicants for administrative officer jobs, compared to 14,000 last year.
Ms Lam also said new recruits risked losing their jobs by creating a “negative impression” of the administration on internet posts.
Meanwhile, Mr Nip has said Hong Kong had sufficient COVID-19 vaccines to administer booster jabs for the population if this was needed.
Hong Kong, 23 October 2021
