The Chief Executive-elect, Mrs Carrie Lam, met with a number of civil service unions today (April 6) to listen to their expectations and exchange views on the work of civil servants and other issues.
 
         Mrs Lam said at the meeting that Hong Kong has an excellent team of civil servants, who are dedicated to providing professional and quality services to the community. She thanked all civil servants for their hard work, and pledged to maintain close communication and contact with the unions. In responding to their demands, she will follow the principles of "caring", "listening" and "acting", as advocated by her during her election campaigning period.
 
      Mrs Lam briefed representatives of the civil service unions about the concrete proposals outlined in her election manifesto, which include:
 

1. Re-examining whether civil servants on non-pension terms who joined the Government after 2000 may choose to extend their years of service to 65 years of age (or from 55 to 60 years old for disciplined services staff);
2. Reviewing whether services provided to the public by various government departments have been affected by the "0-1-1" cost-savings programme during the past two years; and
3. Reviewing the staffing and promotion prospects in time-limited posts so that civil service colleagues can settle down in their work.

 
          The Chief Executive-elect said that, after assuming the post of the Chief Executive, she would encourage all department heads to review operational procedures, simplify processes and delegate powers without compromising public interests, and to define clear work goals and administrative guidelines to reduce the pressure on front-line civil service colleagues.
 
          The meeting today was held at the Office of the Chief Executive-elect. It was attended by some 30 representatives from the Senior Civil Service Council, the Model Scale 1 Staff Consultative Council, the Police Force Council, the Disciplined Services Consultative Council, the Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union, the Hong Kong Federation of Civil Service Unions, the Government Employees Association and the Government Disciplined Services General Union.
 

Ends/Thursday, April 6, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:02

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