For the past 36 years, I have taken pride in being part of the civil service. Hailed as one of the most efficient and cleanest governing teams in the world, the civil service has been crucial to the effective governance of Hong Kong. Over the past few years, Hong Kong has gone through different challenges and the civil service has come under considerable pressure and criticism. Yet I am confident that this team that I have worked with for 36 years is as efficient, clean and trustworthy as ever and remains deeply passionate for Hong Kong.
The world is undergoing profound changes unseen in the past century, and Hong Kong will inevitably feel the impacts. As an international financial centre and an open economy, Hong Kong is in for immense challenges in the future. Nevertheless, with the staunch support of the motherland and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we will be presented with unprecedented opportunities too.
In his important speech delivered at the meeting to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term Government of HKSAR, President Xi raised “four musts” for the new administration: we must fully and faithfully implement the principle of “one country, two systems”; we must uphold the central government’s overall jurisdiction while securing the HKSAR’s high degree of autonomy; we must ensure that Hong Kong is administered by patriots; and we must maintain Hong Kong’s distinctive status and advantages. President Xi also laid down “four expectations” for the newly inaugurated Government, i.e. further improving its governance, continuing to create strong impetus for growth, earnestly addressing people’s concerns and difficulties in livelihood, and working together to safeguard harmony and stability.
As the backbone of the HKSAR Government, the civil service, which is responsible for implementing government policies and measures and providing public services, has a direct bearing on the effectiveness of Hong Kong’s administration. At the same time, the 180 000 civil servants are important stakeholders of Hong Kong and also members of this big family. Therefore, it is not only the responsibility but also the obligation of every civil servant to strive for a better future for the community, implement “one country, two systems” to the full and make a concerted effort to start a new chapter for Hong Kong.
It is a great honour for me to take up the new role of the Secretary for the Civil Service, a politically appointed official, and continue to work with my long-time colleagues in the civil service. By demonstrating team spirit and adopting a result-oriented approach, we will be providing quality services to the public in a more precise, practical and proactive manner, thereby further improving our governance.
Apart from listening with an open mind to the views of various sectors on civil service management, I will step up communication with civil service colleagues to learn about the difficulties they face and tap into their ideas while enhancing their understanding of the Government’s policy objectives, thereby raising their work effectiveness. With the establishment of the Civil Service College at the end of last year, I believe that civil servants will gain a firmer grasp of the wider situation and be more responsive to public aspirations through the strengthening of training.
I look forward to joining hands with you all to consolidate the team culture of the civil service in the days ahead. Let us support the Chief Executive in administering the HKSAR, work together for the well-being of Hong Kong and make contribution to the nation!
