|
20 October 2001
Dear Colleagues,
New Homepage and New Initiatives
To move with the times and to improve the quality of service, we in the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) have decided to give our homepage a major revamp in both layout and content. The new CSB Homepage, complete with enhanced and user-friendly navigational features and searching functions, is launched today. It is a valuable source of up-to-date and useful information relating to the management of the Civil Service, including management policies and the latest progress of the Civil Service Reform. There are also add-ons such as an interactive information system for various jobs in the Civil Service and a pension calculator.
We hope our homepage will serve as a link between the public and the Civil Service as it offers users an opportunity to obtain a deeper understanding of civil service matters. We also hope it will foster our communication with all colleagues. Strengthening the communicatory role of the CSB Homepage is one of the measures I have undertaken to improve the communication between staff and the management. I would like to invite all of you to visit the CSB Homepage at http://www.csb.gov.hk to keep abreast of the latest developments in the Civil Service. Your suggestions on improving the layout and content of our homepage are most welcome.
The Chief Executive delivered his 2001 Policy Address last week. I take this opportunity to highlight some important tasks of the CSB in the coming year. In 2002, we will see through the implementation of the Reform measures currently underway and consolidate our achievements. We will also take forward the following initiatives to ensure the delivery of quality service to the community through a clean, trustworthy and fulfilled workforce.
-
Modernise the policy and practice applicable to the management of the Civil Service - We will embark on Stage 2 of the consultancy study on the proposed Civil Service Provident Fund Scheme to work out the implementation details. Our target is to have the Scheme in place in 2003. We will complete the review of the effectiveness of the Voluntary Retirement Scheme by mid-2002 and will explore the way forward.
-
Equip staff with the skill, knowledge and ability to deliver an efficient service to the community - Apart from the continuance of the three-year Training and Development Programme, we will request departments and grades to draw up annual training and development plans specific to their needs so that colleagues can acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to meet service requirement. We will issue by early 2002 a Directorate Personal Development Guide to encourage directorate officers to draw up their own personal development plan so that they can lead by example the culture of continuous learning in the Civil Service.
-
Promote a culture focused on achieving results - We will conduct a comprehensive review of civil service rules and regulations with a view to identifying further scope for simplification and streamlining of procedures and for delegation of authority on civil service management matters to other bureaux/departments. Our aim is to enhance civil service efficiency and to achieve economy of resources. We are also organising a "Customer Service Excellence Award" Scheme to recognise achievements in customer service. In addition, funds will be allocated to assist departments with their initiatives aimed at enhancing a customer-focused culture.
-
Uphold the integrity of the Civil Service - We will review the disciplinary rules and mechanism with a view to exploring scope for further shortening the processing time of disciplinary cases and for enhancing management responsibility at the supervisory level. We aim to effectively integrate the duty of handling disciplinary matters with the responsibility of performance management. In collaboration with the Independent Commission Against Corruption, we will organise a forum on current integrity challenges for senior government officials and assist departments, through training programmes and publicity efforts, to sustain a culture of probity among colleagues.
-
Promote staff well-being - We will organise a series of seminars and exhibitions to enhance staff's awareness of job-related hazards and promote implementation of precautionary measures against potential hazards at work.
We will take forward our initiatives through thorough consultation with departmental management and the staff sides. In the process, we will also take full account of the community's expectations for better service, increased transparency and greater accountability of the Civil Service.
In his Policy Address, the Chief Executive remarked, "The quality of the Hong Kong Civil Service is very good, and our civil servants have been internationally recognised as among the least corrupt and the least bureaucratic." He also acknowledged the commitment of the Civil Service to enhancing efficiency and to reducing expenditure. However, as he pointed out, the entire Government has the responsibility to respond to the community's aspirations in a more efficient and better way. In view of the continually increasing demands from the public, all of us should work towards winning their trust and support by raising the overall standards of our services. The CSB will therefore spare no efforts to implement the above initiatives so that colleagues can better respond to the ardent expectations of the people.
Once again, I would like to remind all colleagues that at a time when the general public is beset with difficulties in the face of an economic downturn, we civil servants, with relatively secure job and income, have an imperative duty to perform our job even better. We should remain modest and prudent while off duty and take care not to tarnish the reputation of the Civil Service. We should also strive to enhance our "serving the community" spirit and raise our efficiency with a view to achieving notable results, which will benefit our fellow citizens, improve the business environment and increase Hong Kong's competitiveness.
Yours sincerely,
(Joseph W P Wong)
Secretary for the Civil Service
|
