As the central training agency of the government, the Civil Service College (CSC) seeks to achieve objectives in five areas: enhancing governance and leadership capabilities; deepening understanding of the constitutional order, national development and strategies; building a people-oriented service culture; strengthening professional competence; and promoting a culture of continuous learning.

Mindset building

Mindset building is at the heart of all training programmes in CSC. Civil servants must be patriotic, have a keen awareness of the need to safeguard national security, and share a strong commitment to serve our society and our country at large. To this end, CSC will collaborate with Peking University to organise an in-depth training programme to enhance senior civil servants’ understanding of “One Country, Two Systems” and contemporary China. It comprises 12 monthly lectures by Mainland and local experts covering topics related to “One Country, Two Systems” and the different facets of the country’s development. The inaugural programme will be launched in July 2023.

CSC will also organise a dedicated series of seminars on the theme of “Holistic View of National Security” to foster civil servants’ understanding of the challenges Hong Kong faces in safeguarding national security in the complex international environment, and the responsibilities and obligations each civil servant shares. In addition, following the first series of monthly talks delivered by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) last year, a new series on the country’s foreign affairs will be launched in 2023 to deepen civil servants’ understanding of the international environment and the challenges our country faces, enabling them to better align their work with the country’s foreign policy.

National studies programmes and thematic visits on the Mainland will gradually resume, and more middle and senior-level civil servants will be arranged to take part as they advance in their career. The Civil Service Staff Exchange Programme is also under active planning and will be extended to cover Mainland municipalities in the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area. The exchange period will be extended to three months or more. The plan allows participating officers to gain more in-depth experience and exposure to the Mainland government mechanisms, operating environment and the culture and lifestyle in the Mainland.

For new recruits, induction training has been strengthened since July 2022. All new recruits are required to complete a foundation training programme within the probationary period. Its content will be continually strengthened to facilitate new recruits’ accurate understanding of the civil service’s core values and the constitutional order of the HKSAR, as well as enhance their awareness of the need to safeguard national security. Upon confirmation to the permanent establishment, officers of degree or professional grades are also required to attend an advanced training programme with enriched content. Both programmes have received positive feedback from participants since their launch in July 2022.

Enhancing governance and leadership capabilities

Senior civil servants play a critical role as they are entrusted to formulate and implement public policies, the quality of which will determine the efficacy of Hong Kong’s governance. CSC will continue to systematically arrange for officers from middle to senior and directorate ranks to attend milestone leadership development programmes to broaden their perspectives and enhance their leadership capabilities. These programmes include:

an eight-day Advanced Leadership Enhancement Programme for directorate officers;

a three-week Leadership In Action Programme for senior officers at Master Pay Scale points 45 to 49;

a 13-day Innovative Leadership Programme for officers at Master Pay Scale points 38 to 44; and

a five-day Leadership Essentials Programme for officers at Master Pay Scale points 27 to 37.

These programmes have been enriched and more training places will be offered as resources permit. Additional topics such as geopolitics and international relations, Hong Kong’s distinctive status and advantages, innovation and technology strategy in the public service, etc. have been incorporated. The programmes are conducted through case studies and analyses, experience sharing and site visits to maximise learning effectiveness. CSC will also design and deliver more thematic seminars and workshops covering topics on leadership and public policy, public service innovation, trends and application of new technologies, public communication and crisis management, the latest local, national and global developments etc., and will expand the network of collaboration with universities / training institutes in developing new and advanced training programmes.

In addition, CSC will continue to arrange for senior civil servants to attend the Master’s Degree in Public Policy Programme run by Peking University to enrich their perspectives in public administration. CSC will arrange for 15 to 20 civil servants to take part in the programme every year. The first cohort started in September 2022, and the second one will begin this September. The programme for each cohort lasts for two years, with the first year of study taking place in Peking University. Participants will visit different areas in the Mainland to conduct research and studies and gain first-hand experience of the country’s development. The second year will take place in Hong Kong where participants will complete a thesis while they resume work. CSC will also continue to sponsor senior civil servants to attend the Executive Master of Public Administration Programme for the Project of Hong Kong Public Administrative Talents at Tsinghua University.

Building a people-oriented service culture

To build a stronger civil service culture centred around the “people-first principle”, the service ethos is infused into all civil service training programmes from induction, management, leadership to functional and skill-based training at all levels. CSC also strives to foster a “one-government culture” through promoting good practices and real-life cases of exemplary public service delivery, such as the good stories and behind-the-scenes efforts by civil servants in the award-winning projects of the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme. CSC will continue to enrich training interactions to naturally reinforce the key elements of the desired mindset.

Way Forward

With various enhancement initiatives already launched and in the pipeline, CSC looks forward to nurturing a united, dedicated, visionary and innovative civil service that can meet new challenges and ever-rising public expectations.