Hong Kong civil servants’ code of conduct now requires prioritising national security
- Updated Civil Service Code comes into effect, six months after government proposed changes to ensure loyalty, integrity
Hong Kong’s 173,000 civil servants must prioritise national security as a core value and steer clear from criticising government policies in their official roles, the city has mandated in its updated code of conduct for those in public service.
The number of “core values” civil servants needed to uphold on a daily basis at work doubled to 12, with “upholding the constitutional order and national security” at the top of the list. The list also retained “political neutrality” as a core value, despite earlier plans to remove it.
“All civil servants should stay vigilant against acts or activities endangering national security,” the code states. “Civil servants must provide all reasonable facilitation, support, backing and protection that is necessary for the work on safeguarding national security.”
Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan said in a statement that most of the views gathered supported updating the code.
She added that authorities had also included clauses in response to the new Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, enacted under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution.
“The government is committed to enhancing civil servants’ awareness of national security and establishing a set of shared values and standards of conduct for the civil service,” she said.
