The new head of the Hong Kong Public Service says officers must understand that they serve China as well as the Special Administrative Region.
The comments by Patrick Nip Tak-kuen (pictured) marked the first time in the 23 years since the city’s handover from British to Chinese sovereignty that the Government has specifically defined the role of its 180,000-strong Public Service in this manner.
While public sector unions expressed concern and called for further clarification, the move was seen as part of an aggressive campaign by the Government to shore up support among its workforce amid controversy over the impending National Security Law that Beijing has tailor-made for Hong Kong.
Speaking at a round-table conference organised by the city’s largest pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, Mr Nip made it clear that Public Servants also served under the People’s Republic of China.
“This is in keeping with the one country, two systems governing policy. So, in doing their job, and thinking of various issues, they need to consider their dual roles,” Mr Nip said.
He dismissed the argument that Public Servants must keep a distance between themselves and the Chief Executive’s Cabinet to remain politically neutral.
“Political neutrality is not about not taking sides. It is Civil Servants’ responsibility to support the Government’s policies. They are politically neutral when they can execute policies well,” Mr Nip said.
Chair of the Hong Kong Senior Government Officers Association, Lee Fong-chung called for a clarification.
“If that means some changes in the Code of the Civil Service, Civil Servants should first be consulted,” Mr Lee said.
Chair of the Union for New Civil Servants, Michael Ngan Mo-chau said the Basic Law, which acts as the city’s constitution, stated only that Public Servants must be dedicated to their duties and be responsible to the Hong Kong Government.
“The Government should explain what Civil Servants should do in case there are conflicts between the two roles,” Mr Ngan said.
Hong Kong, 9 June 2020
