This morning, the Chief Executive delivered his 2025 Policy Address, titled “Deepening Reforms for Our People, Leveraging Our Strengths for a Brighter Future”, unveiling his plans to further consolidate Hong Kong’s competitiveness, promote economic growth, improve people’s livelihood, and drive reforms and innovation in society. The civil service has always played an important role in formulating, promoting and implementing policies as well as delivering quality services to the public. So long as all civil servants fulfil their duties and responsibilities with professionalism and go the extra mile in whatever they do, Hong Kong will certainly gain momentum and our people will have a real taste of the fruits of effective governance.
This year’s Policy Address puts forward a number of initiatives to continue enhancing the accountability and efficiency of the governing team in policy implementation. These initiatives include -
Further enhance governance
- Establish the Heads of Departments Accountability System:
- Give impetus to Heads of Departments to establish effective management teams and operating systems, improve workflow on an ongoing basis and continuously enhance the effectiveness of departments;
- When a problem occurs in a department, conduct an investigation at the appropriate tier in accordance with the severity of the problem to identify the cause, with a view to putting in place improvements, attributing responsibilities to the appropriate parties and with regard to the nature and severity of the deficiency, taking administrative or disciplinary actions against the responsible parties in accordance with the civil service management regime. If the problem is serious, widespread or a repetitive, systemic one, or there are indications that the Head of Department concerned is implicated in the problem, the investigation will be independently conducted by the Public Service Commission;
- Expand the functions of the Public Service Commission to enable it to conduct independent and impartial investigations when necessary. The Government will make relevant subsidiary legislation under the Public Service Commission Ordinance;
- Strengthen the performance appraisal system for civil servants by conducting a study to develop a more rigorous appraisal system that reflects and differentiates the performance levels of civil servants more effectively;
- Require Secretaries of Department and Directors of Bureau to supervise the senior civil servants under their charge to properly perform personnel management work for their staff at all ranks, including performance appraisal, posting, promotion and discipline;
Strengthen the management and training of the civil service
- Amend the Public Service (Administration) Order and the Public Service (Disciplinary) Regulation for streamlining disciplinary procedures and enhancing interdiction arrangements, with a view to implementing the revised provisions in 2026;
- Launch the Governance Talents Development Programme to help create a talent pool in the Government;
- Enhance the hardware facilities for civil service training, with the new Civil Service College building expected to commence operation in 2027;
- With the support of the Central People’s Government, select a new batch of outstanding young civil servants to participate in the United Nations (UN) Junior Professional Officer Programme and work in the UN offices;
- Co-ordinate and assist civil service unions to organise local and Mainland national studies activities and visits, so as to further enhance the understanding of the Country and the sense of patriotism among civil servants and their relatives and friends;
- Continue to promote patriotic education among civil servants, foster their forming of holistic views and broaden their international perspective;
Enhance welfare benefits and family-friendly measures
- Starting from mid-2026, provide designated services for civil service eligible persons at The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, which will soon commence operation, with a view to providing a quota of 5 000 in each of the first two years;
- Continue to enhance civil service medical and dental benefits by providing an additional consultation quota of around 5 000 per year in families clinics and setting up a new families clinic and a new dental clinic in Tseung Kwan O; and
- Enhance the arrangement for compassionate leave for government employees by expanding the definition of “family members” to include siblings, so as to better cater for the family needs of employees.
We are endeavouring to work out the details of the above initiatives, which will be announced in due course. I would like to encourage civil servants to familiarise themselves with the array of policies and initiatives set out in the Policy Address.
Under the leadership of the Chief Executive, the whole SAR Government is making joint efforts focusing on actions to deliver results. In the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025, Hong Kong ranked second globally in “Government efficiency”, reflecting well on the reforms introduced by the current-term Government, alongside the concerted efforts of the civil service. Building upon this solid foundation, we must continue to strive for excellence and continuous improvement. With loyalty, dedication, perseverance and an innovative mindset, we must render full support to the Chief Executive and the SAR Government in administering Hong Kong. Let us seize every opportunity to promote the city’s development and join hands to build a better Hong Kong.
