Oath-taking by Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Department and senior directorate civil servants (with photos/video)

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) today (December 18) held an oath-taking ceremony for civil servants at the Central Government Offices. Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Department and directorate civil servants at the rank of D6 or above took an oath which was witnessed by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, also attended the oath-taking ceremony.
 
     Led by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Department and senior directorate civil servants took an oath that they would uphold the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (Basic Law), bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (HKSAR), be dedicated to their duties and be responsible to the HKSAR Government.
 
     "Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Department and senior directorate civil servants assume leadership positions in the HKSAR Government and play a pivotal role in the formulation and implementation of government policies. The oath-taking ceremony today bears great significance as it allows them to solemnly make an open acknowledgement of their acceptance and commitment to uphold the Basic Law, bear allegiance to the HKSAR and be responsible to the HKSAR Government. It also demonstrates the solidarity and commitment of the senior echelon of the HKSAR Government to implement the policy of 'one country, two systems' and serve for the betterment of our society, providing a good example to the rest of the civil service and enhancing public confidence in the civil service," a spokesman for the HKSAR Government said.
 
     It has consistently been the duty and responsibility of civil servants to uphold the Basic Law, bear allegiance to the HKSAR, be dedicated to their duties and be responsible to the HKSAR Government under the Basic Law and the Civil Service Code. This is also what the Government and society has all along expected and required of them. Appointees to civil service posts should in no uncertain terms acknowledge and accept these duties.    
 
     The requirement for civil servants to take an oath or make a declaration is an open acknowledgement of the acceptance and a genuine manifestation of the responsibilities of and expectations on civil servants under the Basic Law and the Civil Service Code. It also enables civil servants to have a clearer awareness of the duties, responsibilities and requirements entailed by their official positions, thereby further safeguarding, strengthening and promoting the core values that should be upheld by civil servants, and in turn ensuring the effective governance of the HKSAR Government.
 
     The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) issued a circular in October this year, requiring all civil servants joining the HKSAR Government on or after July 1 this year to take an oath or sign a declaration as one of the conditions for appointment. The CSB will also shortly promulgate the details of arrangements for requiring all serving civil servants to sign the declaration.