The Hong Kong Government’s crackdown on its Public Servants has continued with the Chief Secretary of Administration, Matthew Cheung Kin-chung (pictured) warning them not to take part in a union poll on strike action against the National Security Law.
Even so many Public Servants joined the unofficial referendum including staff from the aviation and transport and construction sectors.
Mr Cheung said the Government “will not sit idly by for acts that blatantly damage the interest of society and the reputation of the Civil Service”.
Opponents fear the National Security Law, imposed by China “to prevent and punish subversion, terrorism, separatism and foreign interference”, is intended to crack down on Hong Kong’s freedoms.
Mr Cheung wrote in a blog post that it was “infuriating” and “regrettable” to hear that Public Servants were planning to vote in the poll.
“Civil Servants must tell fact from fiction and remain rational, living up to the expectations of the general public,” Mr Cheung said.
“As the backbone of the Government, Civil Servants are responsible for safeguarding the security of Hong Kong as well as the country,” he said.
Recently, Public Servants were told by Secretary for the Civil Service, Patrick Nip Tak-kuen that they should consider themselves as servants of China, as well as Hong Kong.
The 23 unions organising the poll expected 60,000 people to vote.
At least 60 per cent of voting union members will need to approve the motions if they are to pass.
However, media reports suggested that the number voting fell well short of this mark, with less than 10,000 votes cast.
Hong Kong, 21 June 2020
