Dear Colleagues,

Rise to Challenge
in Combating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Over the past few months, colleagues from various departments have been working professionally and diligently alongside our health care workers in combating the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). I must once again express my deepest gratitude to those of you who have worked tirelessly in this difficult period. Indeed, our concerted efforts have won high regards from the community we serve.

Following the lifting of the travel advisory by the World Health Organisation and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, our immediate target is for Hong Kong to be delisted from the SARS infected areas. In parallel, the Government has commenced two mega campaigns, i.e. Team Clean and Relaunch Hong Kong, with a view to bringing a clean and hygienic environment to Hong Kong and revitalising our economic strengths. I am sure that you will continue to contribute in these two exercises.

To express my appreciation to your dedicated work, I have asked all Heads of Departments to issue a Certificate of Appreciation on my behalf to officers who have contributed towards the fight against SARS. Apart from those working day and night at frontline operations, I have specifically reminded Heads of Departments to reach out to those unsung heroes whose praiseworthy deeds may be less conspicuous to the public. Heads of Departments have the full authority and discretion to decide who should receive the certificates. The first batch of certificates are now available and we are distributing them to bureaux/departments.

Apart from this certificate, in the new issue of the Civil Service Newsletter to be published in mid-July, we shall record how the entire civil service renders selfless support to the community and rises to meet the challenge beyond the call of normal duties. Do watch out for this new issue, which features the achievements of your colleagues.

As I write, the vivid images of two civil servant colleagues who sacrificed their lives recently in the course of duty come to mind. First, the late Senior Police Inspector, Mr Leung Bo-ming, who died in a flooding rescue in the North District on 5 May. Second, the late Ward Attendant of the Prince of Wales Hospital, Madam Wong Kang-tai, who gave up her life on 31 May in the fight against SARS. Their bravery, selflessness and professionalism is the very exemplification of the best of civil servants. They will long live in our memories. Of course, our tributes extend to all public servants as well as those in the private sector who lost their lives while saving others in our battle against SARS.

Yours sincerely,

(Joseph W P Wong)
Secretary for the Civil Service