Civil servants are sometimes perceived as pen pushers sitting behind a desk all day wading through reams of papers and files. However, public service involves a myriad of jobs requiring talent from a host of professions and backgrounds. To enhance public understanding of this work the Civil Service Bureau has produced a video series featuring 21 cases of exemplary service.

The cases involve staff from 16 departments, covering a wide range of services including food safety, slope maintenance, conservation, welfare, health and security.

Quality service: Amenities Assistant III Mak Chi-wah and HK Zoological & Botanical Gardens Manager Chiu Yuen-ying discuss animal conservation work. The Fire Services Department's Ambulance Command Quality Assurance Team ensures the best emergency treatment for the sick and injured.

Animal conservation

The Zoological Unit of the Hong Kong Zoological & Botanical Gardens is one of the teams featured in the series. Their efforts in breeding endangered species have contributed to the protection of the world's ecological balance. The unit won a merit award under the Specialised Service Team Award of the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2007.

Its 23 staff care for 500 animals in the garden, feeding them, cleaning cages, assisting veterinary surgeons and improving facilities.

Amenities Assistant III Mak Chi-wah told news.gov.hk the animals require continuous and specialised care. He and his team members have established close relations with the animals and are familiar with their habits and traits, allowing them to detect any abnormalities and arrange treatment.

He said animal welfare is a specialist profession. "Keeping a pet is a personal hobby, but zoological work involves conservation and breeding of endangered species."

The garden's manager Chiu Yuen-ying said staff are sent to overseas zoos for training to ensure Hong Kong conforms to international zoological standards.

Ambulance service

The Quality Assurance Team of the Fire Services Department's Ambulance Command is another example featured in the video series. Consisting of three senior staff the team was formed in April 2006 to scrutinise ambulance officers' work.

Ambulance Command Training School Commandant Pang Kai-chiu said the level of an officers' skill can mean the difference between life or death for the sick and injured. The team inspects officers' performance in four areas - protocol compliance (conducting paramedic procedures correctly), skill conformity, time control, and record taking.

The inspections have significantly improved officers' understanding of paramedic procedure, their taking of more vital signs measurements, and their work in trauma diversion.

Mr Pang said the command has invited tenders for developing an electronic crew report system to enhance the team's efficiency in identifying problematic cases and analysing crew reports. The new system will be launched in two years.

To watch these cases and a host of others, tune in to the youth.gov.hk website from May 16.