Let civil service keep its integrity

Although my contact with Hong Kong government officials has been limited, it is most reassuring and satisfying that I have rarely met one who came across as unpleasantly aloof or bureaucratically rigid. On most occasions, the officers in charge had obviously bent backward in their attempts to solve problems arising from my oversights.

Because of my personal experience, I find it most regretful that some senior government officials have apparently projected a less-than-desirable public image of being uncaring, or even arrogant, making them easy targets of criticism and ridicule by social activists and political commentators.

A more sensible analysis points to the fact that government officials sometimes commit public relations follies largely because they have little or no experience in politicking. This is, of course, not necessarily a bad thing because career bureaucrats are not supposed to be baby-hugging politicians.