Regime review:
Secretary for the Civil Service Denise Yue says the Government will study Legislative Council recommendations to improve the control regime governing the taking up of post-service work by directorate civil servants.
Civil Service
The Civil Service Bureau is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies on the management of the civil service, including such matters as appointments, pay and conditions of service, staff management, manpower planning, training, discipline and use of official languages.
Legislative Council
The Legislative Council's main functions are to enact laws, control public expenditure, and monitor the work of the Government.
Post-service controls to be improved
December 08, 2010
Secretary for the Civil Service Denise Yue says the incident relating to Leung Chin-man’s post-service work shows the existing control regime governing the taking up of post-service work by directorate civil servants can be further improved.
The Government will study all the recommendations made by the Legislative Council Select Committee and the independent Review Committee appointed by the Chief Executive to put in place an improved regime as soon as possible.
In response to the report of the LegCo Select Committee to Inquire into Matters Relating to the Post-service Work of Leung Chin-man, Miss Yue apologised for the incident.
“As Secretary for the Civil Service, I approved Mr Leung's application to take up post-service employment with New World China Land. For all the public concerns and doubts raised, I hold myself accountable and accept responsibility. When vetting Mr Leung's application, my colleagues and I failed to take into account Mr Leung’s involvement in the Hunghom Peninsula development during his service as Permanent Secretary for Housing and Director of Housing. This reflects we had not considered all the facts. There was inadequacy.”
Impartial inquiry
Miss Yue said all officers involved in vetting Mr Leung’s application acted in good faith and in an impartial manner. The Advisory Committee on Post-service Employment of Civil Servants fully discharged its responsibilities when it offered its advice to her on Mr Leung’s application on the basis of the information provided by the Civil Service Bureau.
“My colleagues and I have learned lessons from this particular incident. Since August 2008 we have considered every application in great detail and in a broader and deeper perspective. I think my urgent task is to carefully study the recommendations of the Select Committee as well as the recommendations of the independent Review Committee appointed by the Chief Executive. My objective is to see how the administration can further improve the current post-service control regime so we can avoid and reduce future possibilities of causing similar concern to the public.”
Chief Executive Donald Tsang said there were inadequacies in the handling of Mr Leung's application, and he has asked the Civil Service Bureau to be more prudent and meticulous when scrutinising applications for post-service employment by former directorate civil servants.
Committee's comments
The LegCo Select Committee said the parties responsible for assessing Mr Leung’s application failed to fulfil their responsibilities. It said the ultimate responsibility rests with Miss Yue because it is for her to ensure the policy objective of the Control Regime is met before any application for post-service work is approved.
The committee suggested improvements to the control regime governing post-service work of directorate civil servants.
Noting it is inappropriate for the Government to impose a total prohibition on the taking up of post-service work by directorate civil servants in the same field of work, the committee said the Government should put in place a system of vetting and approving post-service work applications from directorate civil servants for the protection of the public interest and an individual's right to work, but under all circumstances, protection of the public interest must be the overriding concern.
The committee also suggested extending the control period for civil servants at Directorate Pay Scale Point 4 to 7 leaving the Government on retirement to four years, while that for officers at point 8 to five years.
