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Willa Wu

Hong Kong authorities are planning to allow the withholding of up to half the salaries of civil servants who have been suspended from duty while facing investigations or those who are required to retire due to consistently poor performance.
Civil service secretary Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan wrote on social media on Tuesday that the government would show “no leniency” towards the small number of government employees who violated laws and regulations.
Her bureau submitted proposed amendments to the Legislative Council on the same day, with the planned measures focusing on expanding the scope of its suspension policy and simplifying disciplinary procedures.
In her post, Yeung explained that the proposal aimed to improve the civil service system without reducing the rights of the individuals involved. She added that the bureau aimed to implement the arrangements next year.
The bureau seeks to amend the Public Service (Administration) Order and the Public Service (Disciplinary) Regulation.
The civil service comprised 172,576 employees as of the end of 2024.
The current policy does not allow the withholding of the salaries of suspended officers undergoing departmental or criminal investigations before any charges are filed against them, or for officers undergoing retirement proceedings due to a “loss of confidence”.
The bureau proposed allowing the withholding of up to half the salary of government employees in such cases.
“The current applicable scope for withholding emoluments has been considered as being too narrow, especially when cases with alleged serious misconduct or illegal acts are not included,” the bureau said in its document.
“Although interdiction is a decision made by the management side, the officer concerned should have the monthly salary deducted under the ‘no work, no pay’ principle.”
The new measures also stipulate that when a suspended officer is convicted of a criminal charge serious enough to warrant “compulsory retirement”, their full salary would be withheld pending the disciplinary authority’s decision on the appropriate punishment.
Currently, officers can be suspended from duty if they face disciplinary or criminal proceedings or conduct-related investigations.
Authorities planned to extend the scope of suspension to include government workers who received a “letter of intent” – a formal document issued by the department head requiring retirement in the public interest due to “persistent substandard performance”.

The bureau explained that by that stage, the observation period had ended, as the officer had not shown sufficient improvement.
“Considering that these officers are truly unable to perform their expected roles in their positions, and keeping them in the office would add to the workload of other colleagues, reducing the office efficiency and even causing management issues, it is highly necessary to extend the scope of interdiction to these officers for safeguarding the public interest,” the bureau said.
To simplify disciplinary proceedings, it also proposed eliminating the hearing if accused officers pleaded guilty, while still allowing them the opportunity to present mitigating circumstances.
The bureau also suggested allowing disciplinary hearings to continue in the absence of the accused officers if they failed to appear or left an ongoing hearing without reasonable grounds.
Between the financial years of 2019-20 and 2023-24, 1,073 civil servants received formal disciplinary action as a result of serious misconduct or criminal convictions. Among them, 214 were removed from the service.
In 2024-25, 194 civil servants were subject to formal disciplinary action, including 25 officers who were removed from service, while 458 received summary disciplinary action.
Calls to reform the civil service emerged after the 2019 social unrest, during which some public servants took part in illegal anti-government protests and were arrested.
The Civil Service Bureau updated its code of conduct in 2024, including upholding “political neutrality” as one of its 12 core values.
Government workers are now prohibited from selectively refusing to carry out policies or delaying their implementation based on their personal views.


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Hong Kong to withhold up to half of pay of suspended civil servants facing investigation

The Civil Service Bureau’s proposed amendments will focus on expanding the scope of suspension and simplifying disciplinary procedures for employees who violate laws and regulations. Photo: Sun Yeung

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung has said no leniency will be shown towards errant civil servants who break rules or the law. Photo: Nathan Tsui

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News

Hong Kong

Society

Civil service minister Ingrid Yeung Ho warns ‘no leniency’ will be shown towards the small number of civil servants who violate laws and regulations


Civil service minister Ingrid Yeung Ho warns ‘no leniency’ will be shown towards the small number of civil servants who violate laws and regulations.


Hong Kong society

Legislative Council of Hong Kong

Salaries