Chairman’s Foreword

Having retired from the Civil Service in 2022, I feel honoured to be appointed as the Chairman of the Public Service Commission in May 2023. Hong Kong needs a capable Government to lead it to meet challenges ahead and embrace changes for advancement. With the Civil Service being the backbone of the Government, we have to maintain a workforce of civil servants who are loyal, dedicated, diligent and effective. Although we have well-established mechanisms for recruitment, promotion and discipline in the Civil Service, the Commission plays an important role to uphold the impartiality and integrity of the mechanisms, and tender advice to the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) on Civil Service policies, mechanisms and procedures required to maintain a meritorious Civil Service. It is a privilege for me to work on the solid foundation laid by my predecessors and work with the Commission to continue to offer checks and balances that the Civil Service needs.

In the past year, the Commission continued to discharge its statutory responsibilities in advising on individual cases submitted by Bureaux/Departments. In terms of caseload, we recorded a high level of 1 353 in 2023 following the full resumption of normalcy from the COVID-19 epidemic in the Government’s operation. We are pleased to see that in general, Bureaux/Departments have been conducting their recruitment and promotion exercises smoothly and effectively as well as observing the stipulated rules and regulations to ensure procedural propriety and fairness. Their efforts in expediting the disciplinary proceedings and upholding a stringent standard are also appreciated. However, we do find that in some cases, there is room for Bureaux/Departments to do better. In various Chapters of this Report, we have included some of these cases as case studies in which we have set out our observations on issues of concerns and advice on areas for improvement.

In addition, the Commission has maintained close collaboration with the Government to pursue initiatives for strengthening the Civil Service management. Particularly, the Commission is in full support of the Government’s proposals to update the Civil Service Code and streamline the mechanism for retiring civil servants in the public interest on grounds of persistent sub-standard performance, as announced in the Chief Executive’s 2022 Policy Address. We are grateful for the detailed briefings offered by CSB and its thorough discussions with us based on which we tendered our advice. The Commission is pleased to note the launching of the streamlined mechanism for handling persistent sub-standard performers in September last year. The Commission also looks forward to the promulgation of the updated Civil Service Code in 2024.

Another focus of the Commission is to advocate a holistic approach in human resource management to keep up with times and meet rising public expectations. In the course of examining the submissions in 2023, the Commission continued to give advice on human resource practices adopted by Bureaux/Departments when inadequacies were observed. They were encouraged to take a forward-looking approach in formulating their recruitment, promotion as well as staff development and succession strategies with a view to building a robust and sustainable workforce in serving the community.

With an account of our work in 2023 as well as some noteworthy cases bearing significant learning points, we hope that the Report could serve as a handy reference for personnel responsible for human resource management, and the issues of concern raised and case studies given therein would cast light on the key role of the senior management in steering their staff members in the pursuit of excellence and continuous improvement. Looking ahead, we will continue to perform our statutory functions steadfastly and impartially in providing advice to the Government on matters pertaining to appointments, promotion and discipline.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to extend my special thanks to my fellow Commission Members for their unfailing support and wise counsel. Tribute is especially paid to Mrs Rita Lau, who had served as our Chairman for nine years, as well as Mr Lester Huang and Mrs Ava Ng, who retired from the Commission after having served as Members for six years. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Mr Victor Lam and Mr Adrian Wong, who joined the Commission in February 2024.

My gratitude also goes to the Secretary for the Civil Service and her colleagues for their readiness in taking forward the Commission’s suggestions and advice. Last but not least, I would express my appreciation to the Secretary of the Commission and all staff of the Commission Secretariat for their dedicated and hard work in the past year.