The Civil Service College signed an agreement with the School of Government of Peking University today (April 29) for their collaboration to launch a Master Programme in Public Policy for senior civil servants of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, with the aim of broadening the horizons and enhancing the expertise of the participating officers in public administration. The signing ceremony was conducted through video-conferencing.
Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO) Mr Huang Liuquan; the Secretary of the Party Committee of Peking University, Mr Qiu Shuiping; and the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, attended and addressed the signing ceremony. Witnessed by the officiating guests, the agreement was signed by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service and the Acting Head of the Civil Service College, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, and the Dean of the School of Government of Peking University, Professor Yan Jirong.
Mr Nip said, "The Master Programme in Public Policy launched in collaboration with Peking University is a key training programme of the Civil Service College. This programme carries strategic importance and is a key training programme for nurturing future leaders of the civil service in the HKSAR. By constantly selecting and sending talented senior civil servants to this Master Programme in Public Policy, we look forward to cultivating a senior echelons in the years ahead for the civil service of the HKSAR Government, which would be beneficial to the implementation of 'one country, two systems'."
Mr Nip expressed his gratitude to the HKMAO for its strong support and assistance for the initiative, and also to Peking University for its dedicated efforts in rolling out the programme.
In addressing the ceremony, Mr Nip also encouraged participants who will attend the inaugural programme to make good use of the learnings to equip themselves. Apart from acquiring theories and professional knowledge and enhancing skills and methods in public administration, it is of even greater importance for the participants to enhance their sense of national identity and strategic vision, better grasp the positioning and roles of Hong Kong in the country's system, deepen their understanding of the country's overall development and strategies, and equip themselves with a leadership capacity in a holistic manner for the public administration of the HKSAR, so as to play a more active role in building Hong Kong and contributing to the country in their respective areas of work.
The Master Programme in Public Policy is run by Peking University specifically for senior civil servants of high potential. It covers four major areas, namely public administration and leadership skills, the country's and Hong Kong affairs, global affairs and governance, as well as social studies and field work. The programme for each cohort lasts two years, with the first year to be attended on a full-time basis at Peking University. The programme will not only help broaden the horizons and enhance the expertise of the participants in public administration, but will also enable them to gain first-hand experience of the country's development on various fronts through visits to different parts of the Mainland, and provide them with opportunities for exchanges with scholars, officials and other professionals in the relevant fields in the Mainland.
The inaugural programme will be launched this September. About 15 senior civil servants nominated by their departments will take part in the programme each year.
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